Australian country singer Kate Cook, who rose to fame with an appearance on Australian Idol in 2009, has passed away at the age of 36.
As The Sydney Morning Herald reports, Kate Cook was found dead on Monday morning following a search by police.
Police had been notified of Cook’s disappearance just after 7pm on Sunday night, with friends raising the alarm after growing concerned for her mental state.
Tragically, police found Cook in bushland near her Lowood home in Queensland at around 6am on Monday. Officials say they are not treating her death as suspicious.
Kate Cook first rose to prominence back in 2009 when she was featured as a contestant on the final season of Australian Idol.
Check out Kate Cook’s Australian Idol audition:
Known for her down-to-earth nature, the then-29-year-old abattoir worker won over the judges with a performance of ‘Make You Stay’, a song written as a tribute to her late mother.
“My younger sister and I found her. She committed suicide, so it was pretty tough,” Cook explained to judges during her Australian Idol audition. “I’ve had a long road to sort of find myself after being lost for a long time. So I sort found myself through strength and music.”
While Kate Cook ultimately made it to the final six in the 2009 competition, she began to tour the country following her departure from the show.
However, in an interview with The Queensland Times in 2013, she revealed that it had been hard to carve out a career as an independent artist.
“Once you’re out of the Australian Idol spotlight, you soon lose the support network of people who helped you during the show,” Cook explained.
“It took a lot of hard work and help from my sister Paula – who managed me for two years – to keep my music career going.”
“But I’m extremely humbled by what Idol did for me and overwhelmed with how the country music industry has opened its arms to me.”
Are thoughts go out to the friends and family of Kate Cook during this difficult time.
If you or somebody you care for needs help or information about depression, suicide, anxiety, or mental health issues, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Check out Kate Cook’s ‘Give The Girl A Spanner’:
