Who is Shannon Noll?
Shannon Noll is an Australian singer from Condobolin in central New South Wales, who finished runner-up on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003. His cover of What About Me reached number one.
Noll grew up on a farm near Condobolin and sang in a band with his brothers before entering Australian Idol. His down-to-earth country background and rock-style voice made him a fan favourite.
His debut single, What About Me, a cover of the 1982 Moving Pictures hit, became one of the fastest-selling singles in Australian history and topped the ARIA chart in 2004.
Chart success
Noll followed with more hit singles, including Drive and Shine, and his first albums reached the top of the ARIA charts. He became one of the most successful contestants in the show's history.
He later appeared on reality shows including I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and continued to tour regional Australia.
Noll's rivalry with winner Guy Sebastian was a major talking point of the first season, but both went on to long careers. He remains popular in country towns, where his concerts draw big crowds.
Did You Know?
What About Me was originally recorded by the Sydney band Moving Pictures.