Proud – Leroy Sanchez
When I first heard this song, it hit me right in the face. No matter how old you are, there’s something about making your parents proud. Not going to lie, I may have shed a tear when I first heard it … sometimes I still do.

Love Is – Brian McKnight & Vanessa Williams
Love can be strong and fragile, and it can also bring happiness and pain. Love is pure and volatile, and Brian and Vanessa convey this beautifully.

Queen (Acoustic) – Jessie J
I’m obsessed with this woman’s voice and what she can do with it. We all want love and we all have insecurities, but don’t let those insecurities and society’s expectations hold you back from yourself and from love. Yes, it’s called Queen, but we can all connect with the story and sentiment of this song.

One Last Cry – Brian McKnight
I could listen to this song over and over again. Tim once surprised me with tickets to Brian McKnight in Los Angeles and I was in musical heaven. When I need vocal or musical inspiration, Brian is my go-to.

A Mother’s Love – MAJOR.
For me, my mother’s love is pure, comforting and safe, and this is how this song makes me feel. It centres me and I love where it takes me.

I Wish – Toni Braxton
A story of a love that caused so much pain, this song has some of the most cutting and truthful lyrics. The first time I heard it, it stopped me in my tracks. It’s powerful. In fact, every song on Love, Marriage & Divorce – a collaboration between Babyface and Toni Braxton – is perfect. It is one of my all-time favourite albums.

Caruso (LIVE) – Lara Fabian
The Italian language is so beautiful, even more so when it’s sung. This collaboration between David Foster and Lara Fabian is extraordinary. Please do yourself a favour and find the live concert footage online, it’s spellbinding. I’m going to sing this one day; I need to.

Heaven Knows (Acoustic) – Rick Price
Hearing Rick Price’s voice makes me feel at home and at ease. I performed this song in week one of the top 12 on Australian Idol. He was told I was singing it on the show and called me before I performed to thank me and wish me luck. I was fortunate to do some song writing with him in the years after Idol and he is not only talented but a beautiful man.

Angels – John Farnham
John is one of the main reasons I sing. He has been such a vocal inspiration for me and, growing up, all I did was listen to his music. The honesty and purity in his voice is not something can be taught. He is Australian music!

The Prayer (Acoustic) – Anthony Callea
My life wouldn’t be the same without this song. It’s part of my DNA; it turned my life around and has been my companion for half of my life. I still love thing song and, fortunately, other people still connect with it, too. It was an honour and privilege to be able to reinterpret it on my latest album, Forty Love.

Listen to all these songs on the specially made Spotify playlist here.