By Emily Longhurst

Lennox Head singer Lily-Grace Grant has returned home from Australian Idol with new music in the works, a busy run of gigs ahead and plenty of support still flowing in from fans across the Northern Rivers.

The 18-year-old recently reunited with her fellow Top 12 contestants for the Australian Idol Grand Finale and said it was special to be back on stage with her “Idol family”.

“The Grand Finale was a memorable night and it was so good being back on the Idol stage again as part of the Top 12,” she said.

“I was really happy to return and see my Idol family again.”

Grant was eliminated alongside Sophie Poidevin in March after Australia’s first public vote, ending her run with a lively performance of Sweet Home Alabama.

At the time, she told Ballina News Daily her musical journey was “just the beginning” — and she appears determined to prove it.

In the weeks following her elimination, Grant’s social media pages were flooded with support from fans across the Northern Rivers and beyond, with many telling her some of the competition’s biggest careers had come from contestants eliminated before the final stages.

The support reflected the strong backing she received throughout the competition from her hometown community.

“The local community has been incredible,” Grant said at the time.

“I’ve had so much support from local venues where I gig, including Kelp in Ballina, the Bangalow Hotel, Lennox Pizza and the Billinudgel Hotel.”

She also credited organisations including the Lennox Lions, Rotary Club of Ballina and Ballina RSL for helping support her Idol journey.

Now back home, Grant said the experience gave her a much deeper understanding of the music industry behind the scenes.

“The Idol experience made me realise that for the three minutes in front of the camera there’s many hours of rehearsal and preparation behind the scenes,” she said.

“Since the show my work ethic has increased and I’ve started on new ideas for songs and collaborations.”

She said working alongside the show’s production team accelerated her learning curve.

“I learnt a lot being on Idol. You grow so much,” she said.

“It’s a crash course in the entertainment industry, working with top people.

“From the band to the producers, camera operators, wardrobe, makeup, the whole crew.”

Lily-Grace performing in one of her show-stopping appearances on Australian Idol, before she bowed back in March.

Main photo: Relaxing, learning and winning new fans at the song writing camp on Great Keppel Island.

Grant said the competition had not changed the direction she wanted to take musically, but it had helped fast-track her career.

“The show hasn’t influenced the direction I want to take my career in but it has definitely sped up the process due to the exposure I have had being a contestant on Australian Idol,” she said.

The former Byron Bay High School student left school two years ago to pursue music full time and has since attended the Academy of Country Music in Tamworth three times, participated in songwriting retreats and graduated from the Talent Development Project in Sydney.

One of those songwriting retreats took Grant to Great Keppel Island, where she won the Peter Blundell Memorial talent competition.

She has also previously performed with Roger Waters at Qudos Bank Arena when she was just 10 years old.

Despite her growing national profile, Grant said Lennox Head remained firmly home.

“I just love the small-town vibe,” she previously said.

Through June, Grant has a busy run of performances across the region, including four dates alongside 2024 Australian Idol winner Dylan Wright, including a show at the Brunswick Picture House on June 9.

She will also perform at the Clarence Cane Harvest Festival in Maclean on June 6 and the Love Lennox Festival on June 13.

“I’m working on new music and I have some great gigs coming up,” she said.

“So see y’all there!”