Channel 7’s perennial ‘curse’ has been broken with this year’s nominations.

Australian Idol's Dylan Wright and Amy Shark / Guy Sebastian.

The 2025 ARIA Award nominations have been announced, with one star breaking a long-running curse. Photos: Channel 7 / Getty

The nominations for the 2025 ARIA Awards have been announced, celebrating Australian artists who have been breaking records and commanding stages around the world. The list features both new and established artists, with DJ and producer Ninajirachi leading with a record eight nominations alongside previous winners Missy Higgins, Kylie Minogue, The Kid LAROI, G Flip, and Dom Dolla.

Perhaps one of the most surprising nominees this year is Dylan Wright, who won Australian Idol in 2024. The singer-songwriter and guitarist is up for Best Country Album for his debut EP ‘Half A World Away’, which soared to #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums chart upon its release.

“I JUST GOT NOMINATED FOR AN ARIA!” Dylan wrote on Instagram following the announcement. “All this wouldn’t be possible without the incredible team I work alongside at Artisan X, Sony, Select Music, the writers I get to create with, family, friends.

“Thank you God for giving me music and a way to express my thoughts and feelings.”

Dylan Wright breaks Channel 7’s ‘curse’

While Australian Idol produced some of Australia’s most successful artists in the 2000s, including Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, and Shannon Noll, Channel 7’s revival of the singing competition in 2023 has so far failed to replicate the same success.

The same can be said for Channel 7’s other singing series, The Voice, with 2021 champion Bella Taylor Smith being the show’s only winner to land an ARIA nomination over 14 seasons.

Australian Idol winner Dylan Wright.

Dylan Wright won Australian Idol in 2024. Photo: Channel 7

Australian Idol winners who have been ARIA-nominated

Channel 7’s reboot of Australian Idol has so far produced three winners, Royston Sagigi-Baira, Dylan Wright, and Marshall Hamburger, with Dylan becoming the first to land an ARIA nomination.

Previous Idol contestants who have been nominated for ARIA Awards include Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Matt Corby, Shannon Noll, Lisa Mitchell, Stan Walker, Damien Leith, Anthony Callea, Joel Turner, Casey Donovan, Paulini, Kate DeAraugo, Lee Harding, Wes Carr, and Ricki-Lee Coulter.

Out of this group, only Guy, Jessica, and Matt have continued to receive nominations well beyond their appearance on the show. Guy has received 34 nominations and 7 wins throughout his career, and even hosted the event in 2019.