Jessica Mauboy

1989-08-04 · Darwin, Australia

Jessica Hilda Mauboy (born 4 August 1989) is an Australian R&B and pop singer, songwriter, and actress. Born and raised in Darwin, Northern Territory, Mauboy rose to fame in 2006 on the fourth season of Australian Idol; she became the runner-up and subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia. Her mother, is an Aboriginal Australian woman of the Kuku Yalanji people. Mauboy released her debut live album The Journey in February 2007. The Journey debuted at number four on the ARIA Albums Chart. In September 2007, Mauboy joined as the new member of the girl group Young Divas, replacing one of the group's original members, Ricki-Lee Coulter. She was a member until August 2008. Mauboy's debut studio album Been Waiting was released in November 2008; it peaked at number 11. The lead single "Running Back", featuring American rapper Flo Rida, peaked at number three and was certified double platinum. The second single, "Burn", became Mauboy's first number-one single, and was certified platinum. Along with Flo Rida, Mauboy served as a support act for Beyoncé on the Australian leg of her I Am... World Tour in September 2009. At the 2009 ARIA Music Awards, Mauboy earned seven nominations for Been Waiting and its singles. Eventually, Mauboy won Highest Selling Single for "Running Back". Mauboy released her second studio album Get 'Em Girls in November 2010. It debuted at number six. The album's title track, featuring American rapper Snoop Dogg, peaked at number 19. Mauboy performed "Get 'Em Girls" at the 2010 Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards, where she co-hosted the award ceremony with Liam Hemsworth and Jerry Trainor, and won the award for Fave Aussie Muso. Mauboy won the 2013 Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year award. In September 2013, she performed at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards Governors Ball in Los Angeles. Mauboy's third studio album Beautiful was released in October 2013; it debuted at number three. At the 2013 NRL Grand Final on 6 October 2013, Mauboy performed alongside Ricky Martin. At the 2013 ARIA Music Awards, Mauboy won Best Female Artist for "To the End of the Earth". In August 2014, she performed during the 2014 Commonwealth Games Flag Handover Ceremony at Hampden Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, to mark the official handover of the Commonwealth Games from Glasgow to the Gold Coast in 2018. Mauboy received three nominations at the 2014 ARIA Music Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Female Artist for Beautiful, and Best Video for "Never Be the Same". In March 2016, Mauboy released the single "Where I'll Stay", which was used to promote the Seven Network's coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics. On 11 December 2017, Mauboy was announced as the Australian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Portugal; becoming the fourth artist to compete for Australia. Mauboy performed the song "We Got Love" which finished in 20th position in the final. Her film debut was in the 2009 musical comedy drama Bran Nue Dae as Rosie. In 2012 she portrayed Julie in The Sapphires, where she won Best Supporting Actress at the AACTA Awards. On television, she has appeared in Underbelly, Dance Academy, Home and Away and The Secret Daughter. She was a judge and coach on The Voice and The Voice: Generations Australia between 2021 and 2023.