Anthony Callea

About Anthony Callea

Anthony Callea is an Australian singer-songwriter and stage actor who gained fame after becoming the runner-up in the 2004 season of "Australian Idol". His debut single, a cover of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli's song "The Prayer," is the fastest-selling single by an Australian artist, holding the number-one spot on the ARIA Singles Chart for five weeks. This record for the debut single of an Australian Idol contestant made him a household name in Australia. He is also known for his versatility in a range of genres in his releases and live performances, which helped him earn a string of awards, including an ARIA Music Award, Channel V Artist of the Year, Pop Republic Artist of the Year, MTV Viewers' Choice Award, Variety's Young Entertainer of the Year, an MO Award, and a Gospel Music Award. Throughout his career, he has released several albums, DVDs, and singles that have all debuted in the top 20 of the ARIA Charts, with the exception of a few independent releases. His third studio album, "Thirty", was released in April 2013, followed by a Christmas album titled "This Is Christmas" in November 2013. In August 2014, he released a "Live DVD/CD Ladies & Gentlemen: The Songs of George Michael", which debuted at number 1 on the Australian ARIA Charts. Callea signed a record deal with Sony Music Australia in 2016 and released his sixth album "Backbone" along with an East Coast tour, which was well received by fans and critics alike. With his powerful trained voice and ability to captivate audiences with his music, Anthony Callea has cemented his place in the Australian music industry. 

Anthony Callea Early Life & Parents

Anthony Callea took birth on December 13th, 1982, in Melbourne, Australia. He is an Australian citizen and has Italian ancestry, giving him a mixed ethnicity. Anthony goes by the full name of Anthony Cosmo Callea. His age turned 40 years old in 2022, with his zodiac sign being Sagittarius. Unfortunately, there is no information available about his parents, but he does have two siblings, a younger brother named Matthew and a younger sister named Christina. 

His passion for singing started from a young age, and he began entering talent contests as a child. He trained at the Johnny Young Talent Time Talent School, which helped him hone his skills and prepare for his career in the music industry. His hard work and dedication paid off, as he went on to become a successful singer and songwriter, with many accolades and awards to his name. He has a large fan following in Australia and around the world and continues to create music that resonates with his listeners.

Anthony Callea Career Highlights

Music Career

• Initially, Anthony Callea was selected for the final 30 in the television series "Australian Idol" in 2004. He made it to the final 12 as a "Judge's Choice Wildcard" and finished as the runner-up to Casey Donovan. 
• Callea was then immediately signed to Sony/BMG Records and his first single, "The Prayer", was released in December 2004. It debuted at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart, where it remained for five consecutive weeks, and was certified four times platinum within seven weeks, selling over 280,000 copies. 
• His next single, "Rain"/"Bridge over Troubled Water", spent two weeks at number one. His self-titled album debuted at number one and remained at the top of the chart for three weeks. His third single "Hurts So Bad" debuted at number ten on the ARIA Charts, while the album's final single, "Per Sempre (for Always)", debuted at number five. 
• In 2010, ARIA named "The Prayer" as the second-highest-selling single of the last decade, also making it the second-highest-selling Australian artist song of that decade.
• Anthony Callea continued to achieve success in the music industry from 2005 to the present. In 2005, he went on an east coast tour across Australia, with Tina Cousins supporting him. His DVD "Live in Concert" was released in November 2005, which debuted at No. 3 on the ARIA DVD Chart and was awarded platinum status. 
• Callea released "Live for Love," the single from his second album, "A New Chapter", in May 2006. Both the single and the album were released on 25th November 2006 and debuted at number 9. His "A New Chapter" tour began in July 2007, and he played 18 shows across the country. 
• In 2011, he headlined the Stockholm Pride Festival. In 2012, Callea released his Last To Go EP, which peaked at number seven on the Independent Distribution Music Chart.
• His third album, "Thirty", was released in 2013 and features a collection of inspirational songs influenced by other artists and some original tracks.
• In 2013, Anthony Callea released "This Is Christmas", a Christmas album featuring duets with the National Boys Choir and his husband, actor Tim Campbell. In May 2014, he performed a one-off concert called "Ladies and Gentlemen – The songs of George Michael", which was later released as a CD/DVD. He also announced an extension of the concert with shows in September and October of that year.
• His album "Backbone" was released in 2016 and debuted at number one on the ARIA Charts. In 2017, he released "ARIA Number 1 Hits in Symphony", which also debuted at number one. In 2019 and 2020, he released the singles "What's Wrong with Me?", "Lonely", and "Shadows". 
• In September 2022, he released "Heaven" and announced his forthcoming album, "Forty Love", which is set to be released on 21 October 2022.
• Anthony Callea has had numerous notable performances throughout his career. In 2005, he performed with Luciano Pavarotti during the tenor's last trip to Australia. In March 2006, he performed for Queen Elizabeth II at the Commonwealth Day Church Service in Sydney. Callea was the support act for Diana Ross's I Love You 2006 tour and Westlife's Arena Tour in 2007. He also supported Celine Dion's Taking Chances world tour in 2008. In February 2009, Callea joined Tina Arena for an impromptu performance of "The Prayer" at Melbourne's Grand Hyatt re-launch. He was a special guest on the Australian leg of Whitney Houston's Nothing but Love World Tour in 2010 and performed a one-off special concert for the Australian Flood Victims at Rally For Relief at Rod Laver Arena in January 2011. In 2013, Callea supported Mariah Carey on her first Australian show in 14 years and performed "Go the Distance" at The Special Olympics 2013 Asia Pacific Opening Ceremony.

Television Career

• In 2007, Anthony Callea participated as one of the professional voices on the Seven Network's musical competition program, "It Takes Two". The show paired celebrities with professional singers to perform a duet each week, and Callea was paired with radio DJ Jo Stanley. The duo made it to the finals, where they competed against Jolene Anderson and David Campbell, but ultimately finished in second place. Throughout the competition, Callea performed a range of songs including The Veronicas' "4ever", Chaka Khan's "I Say a Little Prayer", Blondie's "Call Me", and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode". He also performed a duet with his mentor, "The Prayer", and closed out the finale with encore performances of Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You", Judy Garland's "Get Happy", and a new performance of Irene Cara's "Flashdance... What a Feeling". 
• In 2008, Anthony Callea returned to Seven Network's "It Takes Two" as one of the professional voices for season three. The show paired celebrities with professional singers to perform a duet each week, and Callea was partnered with ironwoman Candice Falzon. However, the duo was eliminated in week seven, finishing in fifth place.
• In 2010, Callea appeared in Foxtel's "Ultimate School Musical: Fame", a documentary series featuring school children attempting to put on a professional musical in just six weeks. Callea was the series' voice coach and appeared alongside other cast members such as Ruby Rose. The show featured nationwide auditions, and the students of Essendon Keilor College in Melbourne were ultimately cast for the 10-part series. The series was directed by Eddie Perfect and also featured theatre producer John Frost and choreographer, Kelley Abbey. Ultimate School Musical: Fame premiered exclusively on FOX8.
• In January 2016, Anthony Callea was announced as one of the contestants on the second season of the reality TV show "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" in Australia. Callea finished the competition in fourth place, with Brendan Fevola emerging as the winner. Callea later expressed his gratitude for the experience, describing it as one of the best of his life. He also hoped that his participation in the show would raise more awareness for his chosen charity, Lifeline, which provides crisis support services to those in need. 
• Anthony Callea was announced as a celebrity contestant on the fifth season of "The Celebrity Apprentice Australia" in October 2020. The show aired in 2021, and Callea participated to support the Children's Cancer Foundation, raising $20k for the organization before he was eliminated in task 4. 

Theatre/Musicals Career

• Anthony Callea has had an extensive career in musical theatre. In 2007, he played a supporting role in Dead Man Walking, his first musical production. Later that year, he took on the lead role of Mark Cohen in the Perth production of Rent, alongside his now-partner Tim Campbell. He also played Boq in the Australian premiere of the Broadway musical Wicked in Melbourne in 2008-2009. In 2013, Callea was cast as Johnny Casino in the Australian production of Grease, starring alongside Rob Mills, Gretel Scarlett, Bert Newton, Todd McKenney, Lucy Maunder, and Stephen Mahy.

Anthony Callea Awards and Achievements

• In 2004, Anthony Callea won the Contemporary Rock Performer of the Year award.
• In 2005, Anthony Callea won the Channel V Oz Artist of the Year award.
• Also in 2005, Anthony Callea's single "The Prayer" won the ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single.

Anthony Callea Net Worth 

Anthony Callea, an Australian singer and reality TV star, has a net worth of approximately $4.8 million as of 2023. He gained recognition as a contestant on Australian Idol and has since released four studio albums, with his debut album certified two times Platinum. In addition to his music career, Callea has also made appearances in various television shows and musical productions. His main source of wealth comes from his success in the music and entertainment industry, and he is known for his luxurious lifestyle. He has endorsed or promoted several brands such as Mercedes Benz. He has also invested in upscale properties and has been seen driving expensive cars. Despite his financial success, Callea is also known for his charitable contributions and support for various causes, including his involvement with beyondblue, an Australian initiative against depression. He is living in a contemporary and lavish residence situated in Sanctuary Lakes for a period of time with his partner, Tim Campbell. The house was acquired by them as a new build for $558,000 in 2008. Eventually, they put it up for sale in 2013 for $675,000. The upscale property boasts four bedrooms and three bathrooms and is situated within a gated community. Additionally, the residence features a balcony and a piano.

Anthony Callea Married & Husband

Anthony Callea is happily married to his husband Tim Campbell. The couple tied the knot on 17th November 2014 in New Zealand. Callea and Campbell have been in a relationship since February 2008, after both broke up with their respective partners. In August 2014, the couple got engaged and have been living a happy life together ever since. They are known for being open about their relationship and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Callea and Campbell are both well-known Australian actors and singers and they have been a strong couple in the entertainment industry. 

Anthony is gay when it comes to his sexuality. Callea publicly acknowledged his sexuality on 27 March 2007, confirming that he is gay after tabloid rumors dating back to his Idol appearances. He issued a statement thanking his fans and his then-partner, Paul Riggio, who worked as a talent coordinator on Australian Idol during his run on the show. Callea said, "Yes, I am gay," and added that he had no issue with his sexuality but that it had taken him time to become confident and happy with who he is. He expressed relief at coming out, saying, "It's a weight off my shoulders." Following his announcement, Michael Kirby, then a judge of the High Court of Australia, praised Callea for coming out and described him as an "admirable Australian," adding that he would trade ten judges for one popular singer in terms of influencing popular culture's understanding of human sexual diversity.

Callea participated in various charitable events such as the Tsunami Relief Telethon and the Red Cross Ball where he performed in front of Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark. He has also collaborated with several organizations including The Starlight Foundation, The Mirabel Foundation, The Royal Children's Hospital, and The Salvation Army. Callea served as an ambassador for the Royal Children's Hospital Perth Telethon in 2007 and was appointed as the official ambassador for Vision Australia in the same year. He reprised his role as the official ambassador for Vision Australia's Carols By Candlelight in 2009, and he has been performing at the event for 19 consecutive years since 2022.

Anthony Callea Height & Weight

Anthony Callea has an athletic body build with a height of 5 ft 3.75 in (162 cm) and a weight of 59 kg (130 lbs). He has dark brown hair but often dyes it in different shades, and his eyes are also dark brown. Callea's distinctive feature is his mohawk hairstyle, which he has been seen sporting on several occasions. In his teenage years, Callea suffered from depression, which led him to seek help from a psychologist. He has been open about his struggles and has since supported beyondblue, an Australian initiative against depression, by contributing his version of a Brian McKnight song, "Home", to a compilation album called Home: Songs of Hope & Journey. The album features various Australian artists and aims to raise funds and awareness for the organization and its cause.