Ricki-Lee Coulter’s huge music career announcement: ‘Long time coming’

“A long time coming …” Ricki-Lee Coulter has given a long-awaited career update to fans, as she delivered some major news.

Ricki-Lee Coulter has announced she’s set to release her first album in 10 years.

The Australian singer, who turned 37 on Friday, took to Instagram to share her huge career news, revealing her fifth studio album On My Own is coming out next year.

The former Australian Idol star, who co-hosts Nova’s Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel show, also released her new single Ghost overnight, ahead of the album’s official release on March 8.

“This album has been a LONG time coming … I’ve been working on it for two years, and it’s my first album in TEN years!!!,” she wrote. “I am OBSESSED with it, these songs are so special to me & I know you’re gonna love them!”

Coulter added in a statement, “Over the last 18 months I have poured my absolute everything into this album and without a doubt it’s my best work to date, I’ve never been prouder.”

The Gold Coast-raised singer last released an album in 2014 with Dance in the Rain.

She said the experience of making her latest album was particularly rewarding, as she’s releasing it via her own record label – making her the owner of her masters.

“What makes it even sweeter is that I’m doing this all on my own terms … and owning my own masters! As always, your support means the world to me and I couldn’t do any of this without you. I love you all so much,” she continued.

Coulter has been working on new music over the past two years.

The album is her first in 10 years.

It’s certainly been a big year for Coulter, who shot to fame as an 18-year-old on the 2004 season of Idol.

She replaced Kate Ritchie on Nova’s national drive show with Joel Creasey and Tim Blackwell in March, and fronted the rebooted Idol on Channel 7 as a co-host with Scott Tweedie.

Ricki-Lee Coulter, Joel Creasey, and Tim Blackwell. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Coulter has also toured Australia over the past few weeks, playing several shows and festivals.

“I can’t tell you how amazing it is to see so many of you singing my songs back to me … it never gets old!,” Coulter wrote in a post as she wrapped her local tour. “I’ve been lucky enough to do this for almost 20 years.”

The star has been married to her husband Richard Harrison since 2015.

They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Paris’ Château Bouffémont.