Australian Idol host Ricki-Lee Coulter is emerging refreshed for 2024, after describing 2023 as the busiest year of her life and an “extremely challenging time”.
Coulter says in her many roles — including Australian Idol co-host, NOVA radio star and musical artist — she is constantly “giving, giving, giving” to others.
It wasn’t until she and husband Richard Harrison jetted off to the Maldives earlier in January, for a well-earned break, that she realised how “wound tight” she had been.
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“I think my personal life probably lacked a little bit last year,” she told 7NEWS.com.au of juggling her multiple roles.
“Everything was very much work-focused and I didn’t get to see my family or friends as much as I would like to, and as much as I usually would, because it was just so busy.
“There were times during the year when there was so much that had to be done, so many deadlines, and every now and then it got a little bit overwhelming.
“Whether it was music, the record label, Channel 7, travelling around the country performing and NOVA — there are so many things I was doing.
“I was constantly on edge, I was wound really tight.
“But it’s not all the time that everything is happening at once, so you kind of just have to survive it.”
Upon boarding the plane for her long-awaited holiday, Coulter says she “melted into the chair” and could “finally relax and let go”.
“I was just like, ‘Oh my god, it’s over, we made it, we got through it’,” she said.
Coulter said her secret weapon was a “good cry”, something that allowed her to then move on with her day and “get s*** done”.
“I love just having a big good cry, wiping your tears away and then being like, ‘All right let’s go!’” she said.
What has also helped, ahead of another big year, is quality time with family and friends, with the singer calling it “good for the soul”.
“So much of my life is giving,” she said.
“As the host of Idol, I’m (switched) on and I’m giving, giving, giving and I’m giving energy and I’m keeping up and keeping the show running.
“When I’m doing my radio show, it’s like I’m performing for two hours a day.
“I’m like, go, go go and I’m giving, giving, giving.
“With music, I’m creating and making stuff and then I perform on stage and I’m performing and I’m getting my energy out.
“I think sometimes your own cup can be a bit empty.”
Coulter says she has learned in the past four months to take care of herself, sharing that if she is not rested “it’s really hard to help anyone else”.
The singer will soon be cranking up again to help the nervous contestants on this year’s Idol navigate their own highs and lows.
She is co-hosting the popular Channel 7 show for the second time alongside Scott Tweedie.
“People go into the audition room and we’re there on the other side of the doors to either celebrate or commiserate with people, and you really can’t prepare for that,” she said.
“I think it’s such a fun roller coaster ride to go on because we’re going through all of the emotions and the ups and downs with everyone as they are experiencing them.
“Then once we go live again you can’t prepare for that,” she said of the live rounds of the show that come later in the season.
“It’s unpredictable when you’re on live television. Anything can happen.”
Australian Idol returns Monday January 29 at 7.30pm (AEDT) on Channel 7 and 7plus.
