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The Advertiser
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Shannol Noll opens up on losing his dad, the farm and making a difference
In the space of two years, Australian singer Shannon Noll suffered a double blow - losing his dad in an accident and then the family farm to drought. But through the tragedy, the Australian Idol runner-up now seeks to make a difference for those currently facing similar situations. Noll, whose hits include What About Me, Lift and Shine, grew up on a 4500-acre farm near Condobolin in New South Wales that had 4000 breeding merino ewes and cereal crops as well. "I left school and worked at the farm right up until we lost it right after we lost Dad in a farming accident," Noll said. "We tried to trade our way out of it. We planted the crop and it was the first two years of a 10-year drought. "So we failed two years in a row, and we sort of ended up getting pushed out by the bank." He said it was "a really difficult time". Noll will open up about and share with drought-affected farmers at a Sheepvention concert in Hamilton, Victoria, on August 3. He will also be part of a Let's Talk Foundation panel discussion at the event. He said he was no stranger to south-west Victoria, where farmers are suffering one of their worst droughts on record, having toured across much of the country. "I don't think there's too many spots I haven't toured over the last 20 years," he said. After losing the farm that had been in the family for 98 years, Noll picked up work on friends' farms shearing and crutching - something he did right up until he auditioned for the first ever Australian Idol. "Thankfully [I was employed] through their generosity - I don't know if there was a lot of work there but they gave us some anyway just because they knew my situation," he said. "I stayed working on the farm right up until I auditioned for the show." Noll said he distinctly remembered during the drought when his mate's five-year-old son saw rain for the first time. "I definitely know what it's like to be praying for rain," he said. "Rain means life, rain means future and rain means you can live to fight another day." Noll said he was looking forward to being part of Sheepvention and making a difference. "I'll definitely be sharing my experience in the hopes that we can help a few farmers that are on the brink or really struggling," he said. "I just think the biggest thing is getting rid of the mystique of thinking it's weak to talk about how you feel. "I think farmers are really prone to just carrying on and not wanting to burden anybody else. He said farmers "don't have to carry all the weight on themselves." Noll's top 10 hit Lift has helped many through a dark patch in their life, and its message is one that still resonates with audiences. "We all know our friends, and we all know when they're a little bit down," he said. He said if you see that happening with a friend or family member, just sit down with a coffee or a tea and let them talk. "Encourage them to get a bit of stuff off their chests because it does wonders when you can actually talk about things," Noll said. "It's a much lighter weight to carry when you share it around a little bit." Noll hit a rough patch after a back operation in 2012. "For the first time in my life I wasn't whole," he said. "I really struggled with that, realising I was never going to be the same again. "You slip into a place where everything is negative and you don't know how to get out of it. It's a really troubling thing. It just snowballs." To lift him out of the negativity, he booked 50 shows and hit the road. "At the time I wasn't making a lot of money out of touring but I just think the self-gratification of getting out and doing something and meeting people who enjoyed the show brightened up everything," he said. "Communication is my biggest thing. I'm a really open person. As for his music career, Noll will be performing 50 shows between now and the end of the year and has plans to soon drop his new single. "It's called What You're Made Of. It's a similar vein to Shine, Lift and What About Me. It's a positive message," he said. "That's exciting." Funds raised from the Sheepvention drought-relief concert will support the Let's Talk Foundation and go towards supporting local farmers and rural communities. In the space of two years, Australian singer Shannon Noll suffered a double blow - losing his dad in an accident and then the family farm to drought. But through the tragedy, the Australian Idol runner-up now seeks to make a difference for those currently facing similar situations. Noll, whose hits include What About Me, Lift and Shine, grew up on a 4500-acre farm near Condobolin in New South Wales that had 4000 breeding merino ewes and cereal crops as well. "I left school and worked at the farm right up until we lost it right after we lost Dad in a farming accident," Noll said. "We tried to trade our way out of it. We planted the crop and it was the first two years of a 10-year drought. "So we failed two years in a row, and we sort of ended up getting pushed out by the bank." He said it was "a really difficult time". Noll will open up about and share with drought-affected farmers at a Sheepvention concert in Hamilton, Victoria, on August 3. He will also be part of a Let's Talk Foundation panel discussion at the event. He said he was no stranger to south-west Victoria, where farmers are suffering one of their worst droughts on record, having toured across much of the country. "I don't think there's too many spots I haven't toured over the last 20 years," he said. After losing the farm that had been in the family for 98 years, Noll picked up work on friends' farms shearing and crutching - something he did right up until he auditioned for the first ever Australian Idol. "Thankfully [I was employed] through their generosity - I don't know if there was a lot of work there but they gave us some anyway just because they knew my situation," he said. "I stayed working on the farm right up until I auditioned for the show." Noll said he distinctly remembered during the drought when his mate's five-year-old son saw rain for the first time. "I definitely know what it's like to be praying for rain," he said. "Rain means life, rain means future and rain means you can live to fight another day." Noll said he was looking forward to being part of Sheepvention and making a difference. "I'll definitely be sharing my experience in the hopes that we can help a few farmers that are on the brink or really struggling," he said. "I just think the biggest thing is getting rid of the mystique of thinking it's weak to talk about how you feel. "I think farmers are really prone to just carrying on and not wanting to burden anybody else. He said farmers "don't have to carry all the weight on themselves." Noll's top 10 hit Lift has helped many through a dark patch in their life, and its message is one that still resonates with audiences. "We all know our friends, and we all know when they're a little bit down," he said. He said if you see that happening with a friend or family member, just sit down with a coffee or a tea and let them talk. "Encourage them to get a bit of stuff off their chests because it does wonders when you can actually talk about things," Noll said. "It's a much lighter weight to carry when you share it around a little bit." Noll hit a rough patch after a back operation in 2012. "For the first time in my life I wasn't whole," he said. "I really struggled with that, realising I was never going to be the same again. "You slip into a place where everything is negative and you don't know how to get out of it. It's a really troubling thing. It just snowballs." To lift him out of the negativity, he booked 50 shows and hit the road. "At the time I wasn't making a lot of money out of touring but I just think the self-gratification of getting out and doing something and meeting people who enjoyed the show brightened up everything," he said. "Communication is my biggest thing. I'm a really open person. As for his music career, Noll will be performing 50 shows between now and the end of the year and has plans to soon drop his new single. "It's called What You're Made Of. It's a similar vein to Shine, Lift and What About Me. It's a positive message," he said. "That's exciting." Funds raised from the Sheepvention drought-relief concert will support the Let's Talk Foundation and go towards supporting local farmers and rural communities. In the space of two years, Australian singer Shannon Noll suffered a double blow - losing his dad in an accident and then the family farm to drought. But through the tragedy, the Australian Idol runner-up now seeks to make a difference for those currently facing similar situations. Noll, whose hits include What About Me, Lift and Shine, grew up on a 4500-acre farm near Condobolin in New South Wales that had 4000 breeding merino ewes and cereal crops as well. "I left school and worked at the farm right up until we lost it right after we lost Dad in a farming accident," Noll said. "We tried to trade our way out of it. We planted the crop and it was the first two years of a 10-year drought. "So we failed two years in a row, and we sort of ended up getting pushed out by the bank." He said it was "a really difficult time". Noll will open up about and share with drought-affected farmers at a Sheepvention concert in Hamilton, Victoria, on August 3. He will also be part of a Let's Talk Foundation panel discussion at the event. He said he was no stranger to south-west Victoria, where farmers are suffering one of their worst droughts on record, having toured across much of the country. "I don't think there's too many spots I haven't toured over the last 20 years," he said. After losing the farm that had been in the family for 98 years, Noll picked up work on friends' farms shearing and crutching - something he did right up until he auditioned for the first ever Australian Idol. "Thankfully [I was employed] through their generosity - I don't know if there was a lot of work there but they gave us some anyway just because they knew my situation," he said. "I stayed working on the farm right up until I auditioned for the show." Noll said he distinctly remembered during the drought when his mate's five-year-old son saw rain for the first time. "I definitely know what it's like to be praying for rain," he said. "Rain means life, rain means future and rain means you can live to fight another day." Noll said he was looking forward to being part of Sheepvention and making a difference. "I'll definitely be sharing my experience in the hopes that we can help a few farmers that are on the brink or really struggling," he said. "I just think the biggest thing is getting rid of the mystique of thinking it's weak to talk about how you feel. "I think farmers are really prone to just carrying on and not wanting to burden anybody else. He said farmers "don't have to carry all the weight on themselves." Noll's top 10 hit Lift has helped many through a dark patch in their life, and its message is one that still resonates with audiences. "We all know our friends, and we all know when they're a little bit down," he said. He said if you see that happening with a friend or family member, just sit down with a coffee or a tea and let them talk. "Encourage them to get a bit of stuff off their chests because it does wonders when you can actually talk about things," Noll said. "It's a much lighter weight to carry when you share it around a little bit." Noll hit a rough patch after a back operation in 2012. "For the first time in my life I wasn't whole," he said. "I really struggled with that, realising I was never going to be the same again. "You slip into a place where everything is negative and you don't know how to get out of it. It's a really troubling thing. It just snowballs." To lift him out of the negativity, he booked 50 shows and hit the road. "At the time I wasn't making a lot of money out of touring but I just think the self-gratification of getting out and doing something and meeting people who enjoyed the show brightened up everything," he said. "Communication is my biggest thing. I'm a really open person. As for his music career, Noll will be performing 50 shows between now and the end of the year and has plans to soon drop his new single. "It's called What You're Made Of. It's a similar vein to Shine, Lift and What About Me. It's a positive message," he said. "That's exciting." Funds raised from the Sheepvention drought-relief concert will support the Let's Talk Foundation and go towards supporting local farmers and rural communities. In the space of two years, Australian singer Shannon Noll suffered a double blow - losing his dad in an accident and then the family farm to drought. But through the tragedy, the Australian Idol runner-up now seeks to make a difference for those currently facing similar situations. Noll, whose hits include What About Me, Lift and Shine, grew up on a 4500-acre farm near Condobolin in New South Wales that had 4000 breeding merino ewes and cereal crops as well. "I left school and worked at the farm right up until we lost it right after we lost Dad in a farming accident," Noll said. "We tried to trade our way out of it. We planted the crop and it was the first two years of a 10-year drought. "So we failed two years in a row, and we sort of ended up getting pushed out by the bank." He said it was "a really difficult time". Noll will open up about and share with drought-affected farmers at a Sheepvention concert in Hamilton, Victoria, on August 3. He will also be part of a Let's Talk Foundation panel discussion at the event. He said he was no stranger to south-west Victoria, where farmers are suffering one of their worst droughts on record, having toured across much of the country. "I don't think there's too many spots I haven't toured over the last 20 years," he said. After losing the farm that had been in the family for 98 years, Noll picked up work on friends' farms shearing and crutching - something he did right up until he auditioned for the first ever Australian Idol. "Thankfully [I was employed] through their generosity - I don't know if there was a lot of work there but they gave us some anyway just because they knew my situation," he said. "I stayed working on the farm right up until I auditioned for the show." Noll said he distinctly remembered during the drought when his mate's five-year-old son saw rain for the first time. "I definitely know what it's like to be praying for rain," he said. "Rain means life, rain means future and rain means you can live to fight another day." Noll said he was looking forward to being part of Sheepvention and making a difference. "I'll definitely be sharing my experience in the hopes that we can help a few farmers that are on the brink or really struggling," he said. "I just think the biggest thing is getting rid of the mystique of thinking it's weak to talk about how you feel. "I think farmers are really prone to just carrying on and not wanting to burden anybody else. He said farmers "don't have to carry all the weight on themselves." Noll's top 10 hit Lift has helped many through a dark patch in their life, and its message is one that still resonates with audiences. "We all know our friends, and we all know when they're a little bit down," he said. He said if you see that happening with a friend or family member, just sit down with a coffee or a tea and let them talk. "Encourage them to get a bit of stuff off their chests because it does wonders when you can actually talk about things," Noll said. "It's a much lighter weight to carry when you share it around a little bit." Noll hit a rough patch after a back operation in 2012. "For the first time in my life I wasn't whole," he said. "I really struggled with that, realising I was never going to be the same again. "You slip into a place where everything is negative and you don't know how to get out of it. It's a really troubling thing. It just snowballs." To lift him out of the negativity, he booked 50 shows and hit the road. "At the time I wasn't making a lot of money out of touring but I just think the self-gratification of getting out and doing something and meeting people who enjoyed the show brightened up everything," he said. "Communication is my biggest thing. I'm a really open person. As for his music career, Noll will be performing 50 shows between now and the end of the year and has plans to soon drop his new single. "It's called What You're Made Of. It's a similar vein to Shine, Lift and What About Me. It's a positive message," he said. "That's exciting." Funds raised from the Sheepvention drought-relief concert will support the Let's Talk Foundation and go towards supporting local farmers and rural communities.
West Australian
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Telethon 2025: Emma Memma reunites with Little Telethon Stars ahead of appearance at fundraising weekend
A stellar list of celebrities from across the country will join the Telethon fundraising extravaganza this year. Crowd favourite Emma Memma cannot get enough of Perth as she is set to return to Telethon to put a smile on kids' faces for a third year in a row. Emma Memma — or Emma Watkins as she is known off-stage — reunited with last year's Little Telethon Stars backstage at her Perth show on Monday, sharing her excitement about returning. 'It's pretty exciting to be back and see the Telethon Stars but also to be able to perform with some of the local children here,' she said. 'Telethon holds a very special place in my heart, it's such an incredible and important event, and I can't wait to be back in Perth, singing, dancing and signing with everyone again.' Telethon weekend is always packed with a star-studded lineup, and this year is no exception. Rock favourite Shannon Noll will bring a dose of classic Aussie songs with his anthems including What About Me, Drive, and Lift. 'I'm thrilled to be invited back after performing at the Telethon weekend more than a decade ago,' he said. 'It will be so great to once again be involved in such an incredible celebration and it's all for the kids.' My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel will be joining the lineup, as will AFL legend Shane Crawford, who is willing to return despite being pied in the face at his debut Telethon appearance last year. They'll be joined by The Front Bar's Mick Molloy, bringing his trademark humour and footy banter to the weekend's festivities. A host of beloved Telethon regulars will be there including from Home and Away, Better Homes and Gardens, and The Chase as well as the 7NEWS Perth team. But none of the stars are as popular as Telethon's very own Fat Cat, who is sure to bring more signature moves and laughter to the broadcast in 2025. RAC Arena and the Perth CBD will come alive on October 18 and 19 for Telethon with the funds raised ensuring beneficiaries and children's charities can continue to improve the lives of sick and vulnerable WA kids. The 26-hour broadcast showcasing performances, generous donations and all-around fun will be live on Channel 7 and 7plus. Telethon raised a record $83.3 million last year thanks to the generosity of the West Australian community.
Perth Now
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Crowd favourite Wiggle reunites with Little Telethon Stars
A stellar list of celebrities from across the country will join the Telethon fundraising extravaganza this year. Crowd favourite Emma Memma cannot get enough of Perth as she is set to return to Telethon to put a smile on kids' faces for a third year in a row. Emma Memma — or Emma Watkins as she is known off-stage — reunited with last year's Little Telethon Stars backstage at her Perth show on Monday, sharing her excitement about returning. 'It's pretty exciting to be back and see the Telethon Stars but also to be able to perform with some of the local children here,' she said. 'Telethon holds a very special place in my heart, it's such an incredible and important event, and I can't wait to be back in Perth, singing, dancing and signing with everyone again.' Telethon weekend is always packed with a star-studded lineup, and this year is no exception. Rock favourite Shannon Noll will bring a dose of classic Aussie songs with his anthems including What About Me, Drive, and Lift. Emma Memma and Elvin Lam (Elvin Melvin) with Little Telethon Stars. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian 'I'm thrilled to be invited back after performing at the Telethon weekend more than a decade ago,' he said. 'It will be so great to once again be involved in such an incredible celebration and it's all for the kids.' My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel will be joining the lineup, as will AFL legend Shane Crawford, who is willing to return despite being pied in the face at his debut Telethon appearance last year. They'll be joined by The Front Bar's Mick Molloy, bringing his trademark humour and footy banter to the weekend's festivities. A host of beloved Telethon regulars will be there including from Home and Away, Better Homes and Gardens, and The Chase as well as the 7NEWS Perth team. But none of the stars are as popular as Telethon's very own Fat Cat, who is sure to bring more signature moves and laughter to the broadcast in 2025. RAC Arena and the Perth CBD will come alive on October 18 and 19 for Telethon with the funds raised ensuring beneficiaries and children's charities can continue to improve the lives of sick and vulnerable WA kids. The 26-hour broadcast showcasing performances, generous donations and all-around fun will be live on Channel 7 and 7plus. Telethon raised a record $83.3 million last year thanks to the generosity of the West Australian community.
Sky News AU
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Baby Noll': Australian Idol star Shannon Noll set to become a granddad as eldest son Cody, 23, announces he's expecting first child with girlfriend
Australian Idol star Shannon Noll is going to be a grandfather! The 'What About Me' singer's eldest son, Cody Noll, 23, revealed on Sunday that he is expecting a baby with his girlfriend, Jessica Louise. The young couple, believed to be living on the Gold Coast, shared their happy news on Instagram with a black and white photo showing Cody kissing Jessica's belly. "Baby Noll," the caption read, alongside a heart emoji. Friends and fans were quick to flood the post with congratulatory messages, with one teasing the singer by writing, "Grandad duties". While Noll is yet to comment publicly on the baby news, he did share a light-hearted Instagram post on the same day, showing himself holding a snake that his second eldest son, Blake, 22, had found "in the shed" at their family home in Condobolin, New South Wales. "What a ripper!" Noll captioned the photo. Shannon, 49, shares Cody, Blake and 18-year-old daughter Sienna with his wife of 21 years, former gymnast Rochelle Ogston, 50. The couple welcomed their youngest child, Colton Keith Noll, in December 2018. "With the new baby, I'm going to have to change quite a bit," Noll told New Idea at the time. "With my three kids now older, my wife Rochelle was starting to get back on the road with me when we were touring, which was great, but now she can't so I might have to scale back a bit so I can spend time with the family." Noll became a household name after appearing on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003, where he came runner-up to Guy Sebastian. His debut single 'What About Me' went four times platinum and was the highest-selling single in Australia the following year. Since then, Nollsie has released multiple albums, toured extensively, and appeared on I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2018, once again finishing in second place. In 2023, the Orange-born artist revealed that Cody and Blake were both pursuing music and had formed "a little bit of a family band" with their cousins. Blake, in particular, has become a regular support act on his father's tours, performing in regional centres across New South Wales and Queensland. Noll told Nine Honey last year that he often shares industry advice with Blake, covering everything from "the business side of stuff to "what you need to expect and demand from the people working around you". It seems the next generation of Nolls might be tuning in soon.
