Ricki-Lee Coulter

Ricki-Lee Dawn Coulter was born on 10 November 1985 in Auckland, New Zealand. As a teenager, she attended Southport State High School. At the age of 15, Coulter had a serious knee injury that required reconstructive surgery. She was told she would never play netball again. Several months later, Coulter's ability to sing was discovered by her mother, who overheard her in her bedroom, which led to her performing at gigs in the Gold Coast and Brisbane areas with live bands. Aside from singing, she also learned how to play several instruments, including the tenor saxophone, flute, and trumpet, and would often play them in school concerts and the school stage band. During high school, Coulter excelled in music and sport. After completing high school in 2002, she decided to focus on her music career, and began writing her own songs with her good friend Xy Latu. == Music career ==

2003–2004: Australian Idol and Popstars Live In 2003, Coulter auditioned for the first season of Australian Idol but did not make it past the audition rounds. Following the semi-final process, she had advanced through to the top twelve. In the final seven weeks, Coulter was eliminated from the competition. 2005–2007: Ricki-Lee and Young Divas . Following her departure from Australian Idol, Coulter was offered recording contracts by record labels including the show's sponsor Sony BMG, but she signed with Australia's biggest independent label Shock Records. The song peaked at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart – remaining in the top-ten for three consecutive weeks. It was eventually certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association, for shipments of 35,000 copies. which peaked at number eight and was also certified gold. At the 2006 Australian and New Zealand Urban Music Awards, Ricki-Lee was nominated for 'Best R&B Album'. Five months after the single's release, Young Divas released a second single in November 2006, a cover of Lonnie Gordon's "Happenin' All Over Again". The song peaked at number nine and was certified gold. Their commercial success prompted the release of a debut album of classic disco and pop covers titled, Young Divas, on 27 November 2006, establishing themselves as an official group. The album debuted at number four and was certified double platinum, for shipments of 140,000 copies. A cover of Hazell Dean's "Searchin'" was released as the group's third single, and reached number 40. However, on 22 June 2007, Coulter announced her departure to resume her solo career and to plan her then-upcoming wedding to fiancé, Jamie Babbington. Jessica Mauboy, who became runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, was Coulter's replacement in the group. 2007–2010: Brand New Day and subsequent releases in February 2007. Coulter released "Can't Touch It" as the lead single from her second album Brand New Day in August 2007. The song peaked at number two and remained in the top-ten for eight consecutive weeks. It is Coulter's most successful single, and was certified platinum in 2008. At the 2007 Jägermeister AIR Awards, "Can't Touch It" was nominated for 'Best Performing Independent Single/EP'. which peaked at number 37. On 18 November 2007, Coulter performed at the first Fluffy Festival in Brisbane alongside acts such as Mr Timothy, Slinkee Minx, Potbelleez, TV Rock, Seany B and Vandalism. A month later, it was announced that Coulter had signed two international record deals, with dance label Ministry of Sound UK and the Japanese independent label Pony Canyon. Brand New Day was released in Japan on 9 January 2008, and peaked at number 242 on the Japanese Albums Chart. That same month, Coulter was a supporting act for Hilary Duff's Australian leg of her Dignity Tour. "Can't Sing a Different Song" was released as the album's third and final single in March 2008, and peaked at number eight. During this time, Coulter embarked on her Brand New Day Tour in Australia, which served as her first solo headlining tour. At the 2008 Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards, she received two nominations in the categories of 'Fave Aussie' and 'Fave Singer', and won the latter award. which peaked at number 11, In July 2009, Coulter released "Don't Miss You", which peaked at number 24, as the lead single from her proposed third studio album, Hear No, See No, Speak No. The second single, the title track, was released in October 2009, and peaked at number 46. but was pushed back for a January 2010 release. Coulter eventually decided to cancel the album's release due to the first two singles struggling on the charts. That same year, her song "Can't Touch It" was featured on the soundtrack to the film, Sex and the City 2. Coulter announced via her official Twitter account on 2 July 2010, that she had parted ways with her manager of five years Lauren Brown. Coulter later parted ways with Anderson and became managed by her-then boyfriend Richard Harrison of Black Label Entertainment. Throughout 2010, Coulter put her music career on hold as she took on a full-time position as a breakfast radio presenter for Sydney's Nova 96.9, alongside Merrick Watts and Scott Dooley. Following the release of her single "Raining Diamonds" in October 2011, it was revealed that Coulter had signed a record deal with major label EMI Music Australia. "Raining Diamonds", which peaked at number 19, and was certified platinum. It earned her two nominations at the 2011 IT List Awards in the categories of 'Single of 2011' and 'Australian Female Artist'. which peaked at number 13 and was certified platinum. "Do It Like That" earned Coulter her first ARIA Music Award nomination for Song of the Year. and reached number 46. The album was released on 17 August 2012, which debuted at number seven and became Coulter's first top-ten album as a solo artist. At the 2012 Cosmopolitan Fun, Fearless, Female Women of the Year Awards, Coulter won the award for 'Singer of the Year'. and reached number 49. and peaked at number 28. In May 2014, she released "All We Need Is Love", which peaked at number 39, as the lead single from her fourth studio album Dance in the Rain. The album's second single, "Happy Ever After", was released in July 2014, and debuted at number 65. Dance in the Rain was released on 17 October 2014, which debuted at number 14 and became Coulter's second top-fifteen album. 2015–2022: Single releases In 2015 and 2016, Coulter took a break from releasing music and spent two years living and writing songs in Los Angeles. After a three-year hiatus, she released the single "Not Too Late" in September 2017. The "lulling, soft ballad" marks a departure from Coulter's previous dance releases, and is lyrically about "redemption and it never being too late to right our wrongs and start again." In April 2018, Coulter performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, held on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Coulter released the single "Unbothered" in October 2018. "Unbothered" was described by Denise Raward of Sunshine Coast Daily as an "unashamed" pop track with a "cruisy" tone and "sassy" lyrics. In May 2019, Coulter began to embark on her Ricki-Lee: Live in Concert Tour in Australia, which was held to celebrate her first 15 years in the music industry. The tour featured Coulter performing songs from the film A Star Is Born (2018) and from her time on Australian Idol (2004), as well as her greatest hits as a solo artist and with the Young Divas. Coulter's first music release in two years, the song "Last Night", was released on 12 June 2020. 2023–present: On My Own In March 2023, Ricki-Lee released "On My Own", the first single from her fifth studio album. The second single "Point of No Return" was released on 21 July 2023. In November 2023, Coulter released the third single for the album titled "Ghost" and announced her fifth studio album would be released in March 2024, titled On My Own. The fourth and final single "I Was Made for Loving You" was released on 1 March 2024, and the album officially dropped on 8 March. On My Own debuted at Number 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart being the highest selling album by an Australian artist that week. == Musical style and influences ==

Coulter's music has ranged from R&B and pop, Her second album, Brand New Day (2007), features upbeat dance songs, Coulter admitted that "Don't Miss You" was about ending her relationship with Babbington, saying "it was my first break-up and he was my first boyfriend so I can't lie". Aside from recording music, Coulter has co-written much of her own material. She co-wrote four songs on her debut album, ten songs on her second album, and twelve songs on her third album. Coulter has said that she grew up listening to artists such as Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, citing the latter as an influence. She has also named Michael Jackson and Beyoncé as influences, she told Cosmopolitan magazine, "[Beyoncé is] so driven, she pushes herself to the limits and she's achieved so much but she's always looking for what that next thing is and how she can improve from what she's done in the past. She's really setting the benchmark for female artists and I think she kind of is the Michael Jackson of this generation". Coulter has expressed admiration for other female artists such as Madonna, Pink, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue. ==Other ventures==

Television Coulter appeared as a contestant on the Australian reality television show Celebrity Circus in May 2005, alongside eight other celebrities. Coulter became a mentor for the first season of The Voice Australia in 2012, and paired up with coach Seal to prepare the contestants in his team for the show's battle rounds. In 2014, Coulter became a contestant on the fourteenth season of Dancing with the Stars Australia and was partnered with professional dancer Jarryd Byrne. She made it to the grand finale and placed third in the competition. Coulter hosted the television program Life Changing Adventures, which premiered on 7Two on 11 June 2017. Filmed in New Zealand's South Island in April 2015, the show featured nine ordinary Australians taking on challenges to raise money and awareness for the CanDo4Kids charity. In 2019, Coulter became the host of the ninth season of ''Australia's Got Talent, and returned as host for the tenth season in 2022. In 2022, it was announced that Coulter would be joining the Seven Network reboot of Australian Idol'' as a co-host alongside Scott Tweedie, after a thirteen-year hiatus from the show. Radio 's Fitzy & Wippa's For the Love of Sydney Party at The Standard, Darlinghurst in October 2011. Coulter made her debut as a radio presenter in January 2008, joining B105 FM breakfast team in Brisbane, alongside Labrat, Stav and Camilla. That same year, she co-hosted Melbourne's Fox FM summer breakfast show, alongside Mike Goldman and Brian McFadden. She co-hosted the show for that year only, but received two award nominations: 'Best Newcomer on Air – Metropolitan' at the 2010 Australian Commercial Radio Awards, and 'Radio Host' at the 2010 Cosmopolitan Fun, Fearless, Female Women of the Year Awards. In January 2026, Nova announced that Coulter and Tim Blackwell would depart Nova’s national drive show to host Ricki-Lee & Tim on Nova 96.9's Sydney breakfast program. Endorsements Coulter became the ambassador for Australian shapewear clothing line Hold Me Tight in 2008, appearing in several promotional campaigns as the face and body of the line. She appeared in a television commercial for the program, featuring students from Darcy Road Primary School in Wentworthville, New South Wales. In 2013, Coulter teamed up with Cotton on Body to release her own range of dancewear pieces and intimates called Ricki-Lee Army. The collection included sequin printed tanks, all-over sequin hoodie jackets, mesh long-sleeve tops and printed knickers. In 2008, Coulter became the face of Jeans for Genes Day in Australia, a charity fundraising event organised by the Children's Medical Research Institute which sponsors investigation into childhood genetic diseases. A month later, on 19 December 2011, she performed at the Pitt Street Mall in Sydney, as part of the Optus Celebrity Carols initiative to raise money for The Smith Family, a charity benefiting disadvantaged children and their families. In 2015, Coulter became an ambassador for McHappy Day again. == Personal life ==

At age 15, Coulter met Jamie Babbington, a builder from the Gold Coast who was aged 23 at the time. They started "dating seriously" after about a year. In an interview with Herald Suns Jonathan Moran, three years after the marriage ended, Coulter revealed that she had experienced depression during her relationship with Babbington. "I was living my dream but behind closed doors my personal life was a mess. [...] I felt alone, I bottled it all up and it made things worse. I wanted to give up everything. I wouldn't leave the house for days at a time. I'd sit in the house all day and do nothing". Before meeting Harrison, Coulter was considered a role model for curvy girls and stated that she was proud of being a size 14 woman. The couple announced their engagement in the 7 January 2013 issue of New Idea magazine. After two years of being engaged, Coulter and Harrison married at the Château Bouffémont in Paris, France, on 5 August 2015. Coulter appeared on the cover of the 17 August 2015 issue of New Idea in her wedding dress. Coulter is a supporter of the LGBT community and has stated, "So many of my fans, supporters and closest friends identify as gay." Over the years, she has performed at many gay nightclubs and LGBT-related events, including the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Coulter has been a long-time supporter of gay rights and issues, including same-sex marriage in Australia. ==Discography==

• Ricki-Lee (2005) • Brand New Day (2007) • Fear & Freedom (2012) • Dance in the Rain (2014) • On My Own (2024) == Tours ==

Headlining • The Brand New Day Tour (2008) == Television ==