He turned four chairs with his beautiful rendition of Calum Scott’s Dancing On My Own, and this week took to The Voice Australia stage once more in The Knockouts.
But Chriddy Black has faced far bigger challenges. The truck driver lost his dad to suicide when he was just four years old – a tragedy he still struggles to deal with.
“I still do [get angry],” he tells TV WEEK. “I was in and out of trouble when I was younger. Kids are either saints or devils, and I was definitely one of those little devils.
“I take responsibility, but I blame it on losing Dad. I was confused and had all these feelings I had no control over. I was angry, deep down.”
Chriddy went on to seek help for his feelings and is now an advocate for men’s mental-health issues.
He hopes to one day run a podcast to help those facing their own battles, and says it’s “just as important, if not more important, than music for me”.
“I had all these feelings I had no control over.”
Back on the stage, the 26-year-old is certainly making an impression on all four coaches. Adding to his list of famous fans is US singing star Usher.
Chriddy was fortunate enough to meet him after finishing second in the Search For A Megastar competition in 2017. However, his idol wasn’t what he expected.
“He was nothing like I thought he’d be,” he says. “I thought he’d be a party guy, but he was super down to earth. When the competition finished, there was an afterparty – but Usher left at 8.30pm so he could be up for 5am yoga!
“He was a lovely guy and really cool.”
Chriddy with Usher in 2017.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au
