Ricki-Lee Coulter says she took the ‘wrong advice from the wrong people’

Ricki-Lee Coulter rose to fame as a contestant on Australian Idol back in 2004.

And the 34-year-old singer has revealed she was given bad advice at the time and trusted people in the industry she shouldn’t have.

She told WHO magazine on Thursday that she would tell her 18-year-old self to not be so trusting and to speak up.

‘There were times when I trusted people too much and things were done that I disagreed with but I didn’t feel like I had enough of a voice to speak up,’ she said.

‘I took the wrong advice from the wrong people who had taken the driver’s seat in my life and my career and I was like, “Oh, OK.” 

While that period of her career left her uneasy and uncomfortable, Ricki-Lee said she’d learned valuable lessons from it. 

‘Now I’m the first person to say if I hate something. Plus I’ve got the best people around me. I’m loving life now,’ she said.

Ricki-Lee took part in season two of Australian Idol, finishing seventh behind runner-up Anthony Callea and eventual winner Casey Donovan.

After Idol, she released her self-titled debut album, which was followed by a string of hit songs including Wiggle It, Love Is All Around and Hell No.

She also formed the singing group Young Divas with former Idol stars Paulini, Kate DeAraugo and Emily Williams. 

They released two albums before Ricki-Lee left the group in 2007 and went on to release three solo albums.

In her 15-year career, Ricki-Lee also hosted a radio show on Nova 96.9 in 2010, and more recently fronted Australia’s Got Talent on Channel Seven.