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Behind the scenes at Eurovision and major losses at national companies

Behind the scenes at Eurovision and major losses at national companies

Eurovision is a phenomenon in Australia, with more than 450-thousand people tuning in for the final this year. But what's it like to compete in this global extravaganza? And what impact does it have on a musician's career? Electric Fields, who represented Australia in 2024, share their experience at the competition.
Hasib Hourani reads his NSW Literary award-winning poem you can start anywhere, you'll still hit all the service stations, originally broadcast on Line Break
Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet have each announced losses of more than nine million dollars for the 2024/5 financial year. That follows on from leadership changes at both companies. Samuel Cairnduff says that this is more symptom than cause, and there are bigger issues facing the arts sector.
Our track of the week is Heartbreak by Tune-Yards
Stories mentioned in the headlines:
Cannes attempts to institute new fashion rules on the red carpet
Gen Z gets a seat on NSW arts boards
Winners announced for the NSW Literary Award
Elton John brands government 'losers' over AI copyright plans
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Katie was fat-shamed by her husband on TV, now she's lost 28kg
Katie was fat-shamed by her husband on TV, now she's lost 28kg

News.com.au

time8 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

Katie was fat-shamed by her husband on TV, now she's lost 28kg

A MAFS bride who was fat-shamed by her groom on national television has unveiled her dramatic new look after losing 28 kgs. Katie Johnston, who appeared on the 2025 season of the popular reality dating show, was left heartbroken when her 'husband', Tim Gromie, declared on their wedding day that his preference is 'petite blondes' and said he had 'no spark' or attraction to his new 'wife'. Australia rallied behind Johnston, claiming the 37-year-old 'deserved better' than being horrifically 'body-shamed' by her partner. Now Johnston, an award-winning social enterprise CEO from Queensland, has revealed she's overhauled her lifestyle after a terrifying diagnosis sparked a health journey that has seen her lose nearly 30kgs in 12 weeks. 'For the first time in my self-love journey, I've turned my attention to my physical health – not for approval, but for me,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Today, I am officially healthy. Here's to the next chapter – living life at my highest, happiest, healthiest self.' The reality TV contestant, who previously opened up about gaining weight while living with the trauma of being sexually assaulted at age 20, explained that her decision to change her lifestyle came after undergoing a medical test that uses low-energy X-rays to measure bone mineral density (BMD). After undergoing the routine DEXA scan, it revealed she had dangerously high levels of visceral fat — the kind that wraps around your organs and silently shortens your life expectancy. As a result, she underwent a massive health overhaul, and now says her most recent DEXA scan showed 'I'm free from dangerous visceral fat, strong in both muscle and bone, and thriving instead of just surviving'. Alongside medical support, Johnston – who has gone from a size 18 to a 12 – said she was weight training 3 times a week and walking every day, while also eating 'high protein nutrient-dense meals'. Fans have been quick to praise the TV star for her efforts, with some cheekily noting 'I bet Tim will be kicking himself now'. 'I ALWAYS thought you were a beautiful person inside AND out. But holy sh*t Katie, you are glowing,' one wrote. 'Looking amazing! Keep up the good work,' agreed another. As one noted: 'Incredible Katie! You have worked hard both inside and out. That smile is so deserved.' Others flooded the comments sections of her social media pages to simply write, 'wow'. 'You where a beauty anyway, but well done,' one stated. 'Tim punching the air right now,' mused someone else. 'Oh wow!!!!! Stunning then, stunning now!!!' added another. Johnstone has since responded to her fans, who declared they were 'blown away' by her efforts, and revealed she too is chuffed with how far she has come. 'I've made myself so bloody proud. Not for the way I look (which is [flame emoji] haha) but for how hard I've worked to get back to good health, well actually to good holistic health for the first time,' she wrote.

Legacies and laughs: Tom Lehrer and Dame Cleo Laine
Legacies and laughs: Tom Lehrer and Dame Cleo Laine

ABC News

timean hour ago

  • ABC News

Legacies and laughs: Tom Lehrer and Dame Cleo Laine

Two legendary singers and favourite guests of The Music Show passed away this week at 97 years old: Tom Lehrer and Dame Cleo Laine. Dame Cleo Laine was one of England's most acclaimed jazz singers, with a distinctive smoky contralto voice and four octave vocal range. She was also an actor, initially confined to Caribbean characters and expanding to major roles in A Midsummer Night's Dream , Into the Woods , and even as the voice of God in Noye's Fludde . In this candid 2004 interview, Andrew Ford sat down with Cleo in Rochester Castle to speak about Damehood, her love of Shakespeare and jazz, and passing on music education to the next generations. Armed with a piano and microphone, Tom Lehrer took on many social and political issues of the Cold War era. His pastiche satirical songs remain startlingly relevant today. In 2000, decades after he retired from touring and became an academic, he spoke to Andrew Ford on The Music Show. He reminisced fondly about his 1960 tour of Australia which saw him threatened with jail time in South Australia if he was to perform five of his songs. Music in this program: Title: Ridin' High Artist: Cleo Laine Composer: Cole Porter Album: The Collection Label: Spectrum Music Title: Take All My Loves (Sonnet 40) Artist: Cleo Laine Composer: William Thomas Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, words by William Shakespeare Album: Shakespeare and All That Jazz Label: Fontana Title: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever Artist: Cleo Laine Composer: Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner Album: The Collection Label: Spectrum Music Titles: Be Prepared, I Wanna Go Back to Dixie, Werner Von Braun, The Vatican Rag, Poisoning Pigeons in the Park Artist: Tom Lehrer Composer: Tom Lehrer Album: The Remains of Tom Lehrer Label: Rhino Records Title: Abandoned Cricket Games Artist: Jerrah Patston Composer: Jerrah Patston, Samuel Worrad Album: Abandoned Cricket Games (released 09 August 2025) Label: Flippin Yeah Records, ABC Music The Music Show was made on Gadigal, Bindal and Wulgurukaba Land.

Erin Molan's emotional confession about marriage after father's death
Erin Molan's emotional confession about marriage after father's death

News.com.au

time2 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Erin Molan's emotional confession about marriage after father's death

Erin Molan has revealed the heartbreaking reason she will never marry. In an emotional new interview, the broadcaster said the death of her father, the late senator Jim Molan, in 2023 changed her perspective on marriage. Speaking to the Stellar podcast Something To Talk About, the 41-year-old said: 'I'll never get married because I don't think I could without Dad there to walk me down the aisle'. 'I think that is the only thing I [would] look forward to about marriage … I never grew up dreaming of a dress, or a Prince Charming,' Molan said, in the interview released today. 'Dad would always joke about his speech at my wedding, He's obviously not here to give that. So marriage does not interest me in the slightest at this stage. I'm so fine with that.' Listen to the full interview with Erin Molan on Something To Talk About below: In the interview, Molan said she is happily single and dating, and she feels it is 'OK to be on my own'. It is a contrast, she told Something To Talk About, to 'when I separated from my daughter's father, I went into another relationship almost immediately for three years.' 'I didn't give myself time to be alone. And I didn't quite understand why people don't recommend that until a little while in. 'Being on my own, being OK to be on my own … it's the loveliest, most peaceful existence I've ever had. I'm dating, absolutely. 'I'm open to connection, but in terms of commitment, not for me. 'This is my time to be selfish, to be the most present mother that I can be and do exactly what I want when I want. I'm having more fun now than I've ever had, in every single way.' The radio and TV presenter also addressed the fallout from losing her high-profile Sydney breakfast radio job on 2Day FM, as well as a TV role on Sky News Australia – and how it brought her to a personal reckoning. 'I started out in television at 21 and I'm now 41. I didn't quite realise until I lost professionally every role that I had – from the start of [last] year til the end – how miserable I had been,' Molan told Something To Talk About. 'I was crippled by fear that entire time. It was only once I had lost everything, every job, that I realised that I was actually OK. 'I realised what I'd been terrified of, which was 'if this doesn't work out, if this doesn't rate, if I get sacked', then I'm nothing. I have no worth and value. People won't like me, I won't be able to get another job, I will have failed. My fear of failure was so massive.' See the full shoot in today's Stellar, inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA).

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