Anthony Callea reveals traumatic inside story behind Australian Idol audition

Anthony Callea has opened up about the traumatic events leading up to his first Australian Idol audition, that saw him lock himself in a hotel room for days.

Anthony Callea has lifted the lid on the traumatic events that led to his first Australian Idol audition.

The Australian singer, now 40, shot to fame on the second season of the hit singing show in 2004, but he’d actually already tried to make it on to the series a year prior for the first season, which was ultimately won by Guy Sebastian.

Speaking on ABC’s RN Breakfast on Wednesday to promote his new memoir, Behind The Voice, Callea revealed the incredibly emotional reason why his initial audition didn’t go to plan.

“I decided to tell my parents I was gay [the day of the audition],” he said. “I couldn’t say it out loud. I couldn’t even admit it to myself, so I wrote a six-page letter and left it in the family home and I left that day to go audition for season one of Australian Idol.

“What person in their right mind would think, ‘Let’s leave your parents a letter to drop a bombshell on them, and let’s go audition for one of the biggest shows in Australian TV history all in one day.”

Anthony Callea has revealed the inside story of his Australian Idol audition.

Callea said when he arrived at the auditions in Sydney, he was so nervous he didn’t end up going through with it.

“I was there for hours on end, and once they called my number out, I froze. I had an anxiety attack and then I realised, I can’t do this.

“So I went into the city and locked myself in a hotel room for a few nights.”

When Callea, then just 21, did decide to go home and confront his mum and dad, Santina and Cosmo Callea, he was met with a reaction he wasn’t expecting.

“I don’t remember exactly [what was in the letter] … All I remember was the reaction from my parents when I finally went home,” he said.

“What I thought was going to be most devastating reaction, I thought they’d disown me … it was a reaction and a love I’ve never felt before.

“I remember my dad embracing me, sitting on the end of my bed and telling me that there’s nothing wrong with me, I haven’t hurt anyone, I’m not sick. And he said, ‘What can Mum and I do for you?’

“I still get goosebumps thinking of it. My parents have embraced me from day one.”

Anthony Callea with his parents, Cosmo and Santina.

With all the love and support behind him, Callea had a successful audition the following year.

He almost missed out on making the top 12 before he was invited back as a wildcard entry – making it all the way to the grand finale at the Sydney Opera House where he was beaten by Casey Donovan.

Casey Donovan beat Anthony Callea to win the 2004 Australian Idol.

And while he may not have won the crown, Callea’s debut single, a cover of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli’s song The Prayer, remains the fastest-selling single by an Australian artist.

It also held the number one spot on the ARIA Singles Chart for five weeks.

ARIA named it the second highest-selling single in Australia between 2000 and 2010, with Sebastian’s Angels Brought Me Here coming out on top.

Callea’s memoir is on sale now.