We cover The Voice Australia here once in awhile. And unfortunately, there is sad news coming from the competitive reality community in that part of the world.
Natasha Stuart passed away from breast cancer at the age of 43 on Wednesday. The Voice Australia 2019 contestant “was surrounded by family at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney,” reports the Daily Mail. The singer was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2018 and underwent 20 weeks of chemotherapy.
Natasha joined coach Delta Goodrem’s team on The Voice Australia, making it to the finals. The singer came into the competition with a 20 year career already behind her. Natasha released her own album Light This Fuse in 2012, and performed back-up for Delta, Michael Bolton, Boy George, Jessica Mauboy and Guy Sebastian.
The Voice Australia’s executive producers Leigh Aramberri and Chloe Baker paid tribute to Natasha in an official statement.
“We are forever grateful to have had Tash orbit our world and be a part of our Voice family,” the statement reads. “She radiated joy, beauty and strength and touched everyone she met with her talent. Our love goes out to her family, her friends and the entire Australian music industry.”
Host of The Voice’s 2019 series, Sonia Kruger wrote on Twitter: “So very sad to hear our friend @NatashaStuart lost her battle with cancer today. A shining light whose beauty, talent and passion will be missed. Thoughts are with her friends and family.”
Speaking to 9Honey in May last year, Natasha said she came to realise how women with cancer shown on television often looked far older than her. She decided that it was important to audition for The Voice, to illustrate that anyone can get cancer at a young age.
“I felt it was really important to put myself out there because I haven’t seen women who look like me on TV, going through treatment,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that younger women knew that you can get breast cancer at a young age.”
She felt a kindred spirit in her coach Delta, who also waged her own battle with the disease. ‘Everything that Delta said to me just connected so deeply to where I’m at now and what I’m going through, and what I know she’s gone through,’ she said.
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