43 Facts About Stan Walker

In 2009, Walker was the winner of the seventh season of Australian Idol.

Stan Walker subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.

In 2010, Stan Walker released his second studio album, From the Inside Out, which spawned the hit singles, "Unbroken" and "Choose You".

In November 2011, Stan Walker released his third studio album, Let the Music Play, which debuted at number 18 on the ARIA Albums Chart and number 12 in New Zealand, and spawned the hit single "Loud".

Stan Walker was a judge on the first and second season of The X Factor NZ in 2013 and 2015.

Stan Walker made his acting debut in the New Zealand film, Mt Zion, and played the role of Benjy in the 2015 New Zealand film, Born to Dance.

Stan Walker is Maori, of Tuhoe, Ngai Te Rangi and Ngati Porou descent.

Stan Walker grew up on a marae in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand.

Stan Walker has compared his early life to that portrayed in the 1994 New Zealand film, Once Were Warriors, which tells the story of an urban Maori family and their problems with poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence.

Stan Walker's parents were drug dealers and both have spent time in jail for drug offences.

At the age of 15, Stan Walker started going to church, after hearing a testimony of a girl who had a similar family background to his.

Stan Walker says his passion for music and church made him a "good boy" again.

In 2009, Stan Walker lost a daughter when his then-girlfriend suffered a miscarriage.

Stan Walker had planned to call his baby, Ataahua, which is Maori for "beautiful", and wears her name as a tattoo on his neck.

Stan Walker says that moving to Australia helped him pursue a career in entertainment.

In 2009, Stan Walker auditioned for the seventh season of Australian Idol, singing John Legend's "Ordinary People" at his Brisbane audition.

Stan Walker was a part of the first group to perform in the semi-finals.

Stan Walker is the first person of New Zealand descent to win Australian Idol.

Stan Walker was set up in order to negotiate his contract with Sony Music and not end up like past Australian Idol contestant Damien Leith, who claimed he did not make any money from his Winners Journey release.

Walker's debut studio album, Introducing Stan Walker, was released on 8 December 2009, three days ahead of its original release date.

The album featured the selected songs Stan Walker had performed as part of the top twelve on Australian Idol, as well the two original songs, "Black Box" and "Think of Me", which was produced by the first Australian Idol winner, Guy Sebastian.

In June 2010, Stan Walker featured on New Zealand rapper Young Sid's single, "Stuck in a Box".

In November 2010, Stan Walker served as a support act for the Summerbeatz tour in Australia, touring alongside Flo Rida, Jay Sean, Akon and Ciara, among other artists.

Stan Walker performed at the Parachute music festival in January 2011.

In February 2011, Stan Walker held his first headlining tour in New Zealand.

In October 2011, Stan Walker was featured on Jessica Mauboy's single, "Galaxy", which peaked at number 13 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

In May 2012, Stan Walker became a supporting act for Nicki Minaj on the Australian leg of her Pink Friday Tour.

On 6 November 2012, it was announced that Stan Walker would be a judge on the first season of the New Zealand version of The X Factor in 2013.

Stan Walker made his acting debut playing the lead role of Turei in the New Zealand film, Mt Zion, about a young Maori musician who seeks to open for Bob Marley's 1979 Auckland show, but his dream clashes with his family's ideals.

Stan Walker recorded "Take It Easy" for the film's soundtrack; the song was released as a single in December 2012 and was included in Stan Walker's greatest hits album, The Complete Collection.

Stan Walker opened for Beyonce's The Mrs Carter Show World Tour in October 2013 for the Auckland and Perth concerts and three of the four Sydney concerts, following Iggy Azalea pulling out of these dates.

Stan Walker returned to The X Factor NZ in 2015 alongside returning judge Melanie Blatt and new judges Natalia Kills and Willy Moon.

In January 2018, fans of Stan Walker expressed concern for his health after gaunt photos appeared on social media.

In March, it was announced Stan Walker had his stomach removed in September 2017 after discovering he inherited a rare cancer-causing gene mutation called CDH1 that has been responsible for the deaths of more than 25 of his family members.

On 26 March 2018, Stan Walker released a 6-track self-titled EP.

In May 2019, Stan Walker released Faith Hope Love, an EP dedicated to the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings.

In 2020, Stan Walker began releasing new singles weekly, commencing with "Mexico" on 21 February 2020.

In October 2020, Stan Walker released an autobiography titled Impossible: My Story.

On 7 September 2021, Stan Walker announced the release of a Maori language studio album Te Arohanui for release on 17 September.

In November 2022, Stan Walker released the Christmas single "Favourite Part About Christmas".

In November 2023, Stan Walker released the single "I Am", from the soundtrack for the film Origin.

On 22February 2024, Stan Walker premiered the single "Maori ki te Ao", sung in te reo Maori.

Stan Walker describes his third album, the more pop and dance-oriented Let the Music Play, as thematically his most personal.