Local farmer takes centre stage on Idol

SMYTHES Creek farmer Billy Menhennet has made his debut on the latest season of Australian Idol.

The footy loving 20-year-old described himself as laid back and said he hopes his journey can show that anyone can be a singer.

“I’ve only really started putting myself out there the last couple of years or so,” he said.

“People are really surprised when I can sing because you wouldn’t really think that because I’m a farmer, I play footy.

“But I love it when people get surprised, it makes me feel good.”

Menhennet is passionate about country music and enjoys playing the guitar.

“I’ve grown up singing with my pa, I used to sing along with him and I’m a big fan of country music so that’s what I sing,” he said.

He decided to apply for the show after receiving encouragement from his friends and viewers on TikTok.

“I had a footy function which was a mock wedding, and I was the groom, and later in the night I ended up singing Beautiful Crazy to the bride,” said Menhennet.

“I’d never sung in front of any of the footy boys before and they were sort of shocked because they didn’t know I could sing.

“A week or two goes by and I’m at the pub and my mate from footy sent me a link about Australian Idol auditions coming to Ballarat.”

A few days later Menhennet received a call back and he said he was shocked when he received the news.

“I was pretty excited and nervous, there was all these different emotions really because I’ve never done something like this before,” he said.

“I’ve just had fun the whole time.”