Bundaberg singer Keely Ellen reduces judge to tears on Australian Idol

A Bundaberg beauty therapist with a passion for country music has made it through to the 2025 Australian Idol top 30, and reduced one of Australia’s toughest radio personalities to tears on the way.

A Bundaberg teenager has reduced a judge to tears while auditioning for one of Australia’s biggest talent shows, Australian Idol.

Keely Ellen, 17, performed in front of pop legend Marcia Hines, chart-topping singer-songwriter Amy Shark and radio host Kyle Sandilands, in an episode of Australian Idol that screened on Channel 7 on Sunday night.

During the episode, the audience found out the beauty therapist has a passion for country music, starting singing lessons when she was about eight years old.

She left school in Year 1o to pursue her dream of performing, but the expense of getting her music out there led to her doing “lash and brows” during the day and doing gigs on the weekend.

Keely said her grandfather had been a big part of her life, but as he became sick he couldn’t attend her gigs anymore.

Talented Bundaberg singer Keely Ellen.

On the way to Brisbane to take her grandfather to the hospital, the radio wasn’t working and Keely sang for him instead.

Her grandfather died last year, and on Sunday night Keely performed a song in his honour – Always on My Mind, a song written by Willie Nelson and made famous by the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley.

During her heartfelt performance, Mr Sandilands, known for his tough radio personality, was reduced to tears, as was Keely’s mum.

Mr Sandilands explained that before her performance he had received a video from his brother showing his father’s ashes being scattered at Graceland, the home of Elvis.

Talented Bundaberg singer Keely Ellen.

“So that was difficult for me,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” Keely said.

“Don’t be,” Mr Sandilands said.

“We loved it. You were fantastic by the way.”

The judges agreed that Keely’s grandfather would be very proud of her.

“I think 17 should be fearless, bulletproof and that's exactly what that performance was,” Ms Hines said.

Ms Shark said in her three years on the show, she had never been so close to “completely losing it”.

“The emotion you have in your voice – oof – oh my god, you are an absolute superstar.

“It’s just the biggest, hugest yes from me.”

Mr Sandilands joked that he had to vote no because he couldn’t be crying on television every week.

But in the end the three judges voted yes for Keely.

Talented Bundaberg singer Keely Ellen.

“Keely, just know we are blown away and I look so forward to seeing what else you pull out of that hat of yours,” Ms Hines said.

She joins Hervey Bay’s William Ramage on the high-profile reality television show.

He will perform in front of the judges on Tuesday night.

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Originally published as Bundaberg singer Keely Ellen reduces judge to tears on Australian Idol