Meghan Trainor finds sweet treats as a judge on Australian Idol

Australian Idol judge Meghan Trainor says there’s still plenty of magical singers Down Under.

From making new friends in her fellow judges and discovering her large fan base here, Australian Idol judge Meghan Trainor had the best time unearthing a wealth of new talent.

Only Vegemite – quite literally – left a sour taste, the US pop star saying she understands now her ratio to butter was a little out.

“I didn’t know what was on my tastebuds, but I didn’t get it,” Trainor jokes down the line from The States ahead of returning to Australia for Idol’s live shows.

“My older brother loved it, I was just like ‘something is up with this’.

“But everyone was telling me that portions have to be perfect. So I’m going to keep trying.”

US singer Meghan Trainor is a judge on Australian Idol 2023.

The 29-year-old did fall in love with another iconic Aussie snack though.

“My favourite thing in the whole wide world is Tim Tams,” Trainor shares.

“Yeah, I eat those way too much. I have them for dessert like every night with my husband.”

Another sweet treat was bonding with her fellow judges as they traversed the country for auditions on the Channel 7 rebooted version of the franchise which was rested in 2009 after seven seasons.

“Honestly, every day felt like the best summer camp travelling all of Australia,” Trainor says.

“I just made new best friends. Kyle and I were cracking up.

“And Amy Shark is my new bestie. I don’t know how I lived life without her. I love her so much. She’s so sweet and so talented, and we laugh all the time on set. Oh, I love her new songs too.”

Australian Idol judges (from left) Kyle Sandilands, Meghan Trainor, Amy Shark and Harry Connick Jr “cracking up”. Picture: Sarah Reed

And then there’s globally lauded singer, musician and actor Harry Connick Jr, who spent three years alongside Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban on the American panel and now reprises that role on our local version. Trainor hadn’t ever encountered Connick Jr before, let alone spent time with him before the judges gathered in the hotel lobby ahead of their first official meeting

“I met him on this trip and it was like an honour and a dream,” Trainor says, adding with a laugh. “I walked into him and I don’t think he recognised me. I was like ‘hey buddy, so nice to meet you – I’m a huge fan’.

“And he was all ‘Oh, my God, I can’t wait to get to know you’. He’s so very lovely and the nicest guy ever. It’s just a crazy dream of mine.”

Trainor brought her husband – former Spy Kids star Daryl Sabara, one year-old son Riley and her Mum Kelli from the US for the auditions. Her Mum was also totally smitten with the It Had To Be You singer.

“My mom was freaking out the whole time too – we were just like fangirling every day,” she confesses, adding the fangirling just didn’t stop.

“And it’s with Kyle and Amy too. I’ve got to pinch myself and ask myself ‘what am I doing here?’.

“Harry would have some great words of wisdom every day for the talent, and I would take that for myself. I was like ‘great, OK, writing that down’.”

Guy Sebastian. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Jessica Maubo. Picture: John Feder/Daily Telegraph

A global success since 2001, the Idol franchise has launched the careers of many multi-award-

winning artists including Aussies Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Matt Corby, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Anthony Callea, Stan Walker, Casey Donovan and Courtney Act.

International music icons Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert also launched their brilliant careers on the Idol stage.

And while pundits have expressed fears that other shows such as The Voice have already discovered Australia’s hidden talent, Trainor reassures viewers there’s still plenty of magical singers.

“I was being told by everyone Australia’s got great talent, and also it was cool to travel and see how different the talent was in each state or part,” she says.

“My fellow judges were like ‘Oh, wait ’til we go to this place, you’re going to love it. It sounds crazy there.

“So I was warned, but they all blew me away.”

Times have changed since those early days of Australian Idol, such as in its very first season when original judge Ian “Dicko” Dickson criticised Paulini Curuenavuli’s choice of outfit. Or when Sandilands openly critiqued young contestants (such as season four runner-up Jessica Mauboy) on their appearance. Trainor says it was much different this season.

“Everyone just uses love and kindness, you know, like even if we had someone that would be a little tone deaf or not a good singer at all,” she says.

“It was very clear in the room the way all of us approached that, it was really beautiful and hopeful.

“We would have great characters – great people with great personalities and I would say ‘maybe not singing, but you should jump on TikTok because you’re a star’.

“So it was nice to watch everyone lead with love. Even Kyle was like a sweetheart.”

Meghan Trainor said all of the Australian Idol judges used “love and kindness” when dealing with contestants.

Trainor’s had her own re-emergence thanks to TikTok. Her hit single Made You Look went viral on the social media platform and was picked up by millions of people around the world, taking on the signature dance to the track. Trainor shares that Idol is another “pinch-me” moment to add to her ever-growing list.

“I never (dreamt I’d be on the show) – it’s such a dream because I grew up watching the Idol franchise and it’s so iconic,” she says.

“But also to be able to tell people like, ‘yeah, I have a job in Australia’, like it’s the coolest thing ever.
“And you feel so legendary and it’s such a moment in my career that I’ll cherish forever.”

Australian Idol, Monday, 7.30pm, Seven

Originally published as Meghan Trainor finds sweet treats as a judge on Australian Idol