History of Kate Miller-Heidke in Timeline
Kate Miller-Heidke is an Australian singer-songwriter with a background in classical music but primarily known for her work in alternative pop. Signed to major labels early in her career (Sony Australia, Epic, and RCA), she transitioned to being an independent artist in 2014. She's achieved significant commercial success in Australia, with four studio albums reaching the top 10 of the ARIA Albums Chart: Curiouser, Nightflight, O Vertigo!, and Child in Reverse. Her hit single, "The Last Day on Earth," peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Singles Chart, boosted by its use in promotions for the TV show Neighbours. Miller-Heidke has also garnered considerable recognition within the Australian music industry, receiving 17 ARIA Music Award nominations.
November 1981: Birth and Family Background
Kate Melina Miller-Heidke was born in November 1981 in Gladstone, Queensland, to Jenny Miller, a ballet dancer and dance teacher, and Greg Heidke, a high school principal. She has two siblings.
November 1981: Kate Miller-Heidke is Born
Kate Miller-Heidke was born in November 1981. She is an Australian singer-songwriter known for her work in alternative pop music.
1998: High School Graduation
Kate Miller-Heidke graduated from St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School in 1998.
2000: Wins Elizabeth Muir Prize
Kate Miller-Heidke won the Elizabeth Muir Prize in 2000.
2000: Begins Playing in Brisbane Bands
While a tertiary student, Miller-Heidke began playing in several Brisbane alternative pop bands in 2000.
2001: Keir Nuttall Forms Transport
Keir Nuttall, Miller-Heidke's then-boyfriend and future husband, formed the band Transport.
2001: Wins Donald Penman Prize
Miller-Heidke won the Donald Penman Prize in 2001.
2001: Helpmann Awards Established
The Helpmann Awards, established in 2001, are Australian accolades presented by Live Performance Australia to recognize achievements in various live entertainment and performing arts disciplines, including musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, opera, classical music, theatre, dance, and physical theatre.
2002: Wins Linda Edith Allen Memorial Prize and Horace Keats Prize
In 2002, Miller-Heidke won the Linda Edith Allen Memorial Prize and the Horace Keats Prize.
2002: Named Queen of the Woodford Folk Festival
Miller-Heidke was named Queen of the Woodford Folk Festival in 2002-2003.
2002: First Women in Voice Performance
Kate Miller-Heidke performed at the annual Women in Voice event for the first time in 2002.
2003: Solo Career Begins
Kate Miller-Heidke started her solo career in 2003 after the breakup of her band Elsewhere.
2003: Nuttall Joins Backing Band
Keir Nuttall and his band, Transport, became Miller-Heidke's backing band in 2003.
2003: Continues Reign as Queen of the Woodford Folk Festival
Miller-Heidke's reign as Queen of the Woodford Folk Festival continued into 2003.
June 2004: "Telegram" EP Release
Kate Miller-Heidke independently released her first EP, "Telegram," in June 2004.
2004: Second Women in Voice Performance
Miller-Heidke performed at Women in Voice for the second time in 2004.
July 2005: Operatic Debut
In July 2005, Miller-Heidke made her solo professional operatic debut as Flora in Britten's "The Turn of the Screw" with Opera Queensland.
2005: J Awards Commence
The J Awards, an annual series of Australian music awards presented by Triple J, a youth-focused radio station of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commenced in 2005.
2005: Shift to Pop Music
In 2005, Miller-Heidke transitioned from classical music to pop music after her song "Space They Cannot Touch" gained popularity on Triple J radio.
2005: "Comikaze" EP Release
Miller-Heidke released her second EP, "Comikaze," in 2005.
2005: Third Women in Voice Performance and Helpmann Award
In 2005, Miller-Heidke performed at Women in Voice for the third time and won a Helpmann Award for her performance.
May 2006: "Circular Breathing" EP Release
Kate Miller-Heidke released her third EP, "Circular Breathing," in May 2006.
2006: Broad Festival Participation
Kate Miller-Heidke participated in the Broad Festival project in 2006, performing alongside other Australian female artists.
2006: Queensland Music Awards Commence
The Queensland Music Awards, formerly known as the Q Song Awards, began in 2006. These annual awards celebrate both emerging artists and established legends in Queensland, Australia.
May 2007: "Little Eve" Album Release
Kate Miller-Heidke released her debut album, "Little Eve," in May 2007.
November 2007: Marriage
Miller-Heidke married Keir Nuttall in November 2007.
2007: Little Eve Release and ARIA Nominations
In 2007, Kate Miller-Heidke released her debut album, "Little Eve," with its lead single "Words" reaching the top 50 on the ARIA Singles Chart. She received five ARIA Music Award nominations, including Best Female Artist and Best Pop Release.
2007: Miller-Heidke Calls "Comikaze" a "Big Mistake"
In 2007, Miller-Heidke referred to her "Comikaze" EP as a "big mistake."
July 2008: "The Last Day on Earth" Release
"The Last Day on Earth" was released in July 2008 and reached No. 3 in Australia, becoming Miller-Heidke's first top 10 hit.
August 2008: Curiouser Chart Re-entry and Platinum Certification
In August 2008, "Curiouser" re-entered the top 50 and reached No. 1 on iTunes for three weeks, eventually achieving platinum certification.
October 2008: "Curiouser" Album Release
In October 2008, Kate Miller-Heidke released her album "Curiouser," which became one of her four albums to reach the top 10 of the ARIA Albums Chart.
October 2008: Curiouser Release
Kate Miller-Heidke released her second album, "Curiouser," in October 2008. It was recorded in Los Angeles and marked her first top 10 album, peaking at No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
2008: International Songwriting Competition Win
In 2008, Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall won the grand prize in the International Songwriting Competition for "Caught in the Crowd."
2008: "Little Eve" Certified Gold
Miller-Heidke's album "Little Eve" was certified gold in 2008.
February 2009: "Caught in the Crowd" Release
"Caught in the Crowd" was released as a single in February 2009.
April 2009: Jerry Springer: The Opera Performance
In April 2009, Miller-Heidke returned to opera, performing as Baby Jane in "Jerry Springer: The Opera" at the Sydney Opera House to critical acclaim.
July 2009: "The Last Day on Earth" Reaches Number 3
In July 2009, Kate Miller-Heidke's single "The Last Day on Earth" reached number 3 on the ARIA Singles Chart after being featured in promos for the TV show Neighbours.
2009: ARIA Nominations and Performance
In 2009, Miller-Heidke performed at and received four ARIA Music Award nominations, including Single of the Year for "The Last Day on Earth."
2009: The Death of Klinghoffer Audition
In 2009, Miller-Heidke auditioned for "The Death of Klinghoffer" after Tom Morris saw her performance in "Jerry Springer: The Opera."
October 2010: Live in San Francisco DVD Release
Miller-Heidke released her first music DVD, "Live in San Francisco," in October 2010.
2010: "Caught in the Crowd" Gold Certification
"Caught in the Crowd" was certified gold in 2010.
June 2011: Fatty Gets a Stylist Release
The self-titled album by Miller-Heidke's side project, Fatty Gets a Stylist, was released in June 2011.
2011: International Festival Performances
From 2010 to 2011, Miller-Heidke performed at various international festivals, including Coachella, Lilith Fair, and others.
April 2012: Nightflight Release
Miller-Heidke's third Australian studio album, "Nightflight," was released in April 2012.
April 2012: "I'll Change Your Mind" Release
"I'll Change Your Mind," a single from "Nightflight," was released in April 2012.
April 2012: "Nightflight" Album Release
Kate Miller-Heidke released her album "Nightflight" in April 2012.
2012: The Death of Klinghoffer at the London Coliseum
Miller-Heidke performed in "The Death of Klinghoffer" at the London Coliseum in early 2012.
February 2013: "Sarah" Release
The single "Sarah" was released in February 2013.
April 2013: Sunken Garden Premiere
Miller-Heidke performed in the world premiere of the opera "Sunken Garden" in April 2013.
July 2013: "Ride This Feeling" Release
"Ride This Feeling" was released in July 2013 and later used in a "Visit Brisbane" TV ad campaign.
March 2014: "O Vertigo!" Album Release
In March 2014, Kate Miller-Heidke released her album "O Vertigo!"
March 2014: O Vertigo! Release
Miller-Heidke's fourth studio album, "O Vertigo!, was released in March 2014 after a successful crowdfunding campaign.
October 2014: The Death of Klinghoffer at the Metropolitan Opera
Miller-Heidke performed the role of British Dancing Girl in "The Death of Klinghoffer" at the Metropolitan Opera in October 2014.
2014: Commissioned to Write The Rabbits
In 2014, Kate Miller-Heidke was commissioned by Lyndon Terracini of Opera Australia to write the opera "The Rabbits," based on John Marsden's children's novel.
February 2015: The Rabbits Premiere
In February 2015, Kate Miller-Heidke's opera, "The Rabbits," premiered at the Perth Festival to critical acclaim.
June 2015: The Book of Sand
In June 2015, Miller-Heidke took on the role of the female protagonist in Michel van der Aa's interactive song cycle film, "The Book of Sand," based on the short story by Jorge Luis Borges.
November 2015: "I'm Growing a Beard Downstairs for Christmas" Release
Miller-Heidke released the charity single "I'm Growing a Beard Downstairs for Christmas" in November 2015, featuring the comedy rock group, the Beards, to raise funds for bowel cancer research.
April 2016: ARIA Award Nominations
In April 2016, Miller-Heidke received ARIA Award nominations for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album for "The Rabbits: Original Live Cast Recording" and Best Comedy Release for "I'm Growing a Beard Downstairs for Christmas."
2016: Birth of First Child
Miller-Heidke and Nuttall had their first child in 2016.
August 2017: Live at the Sydney Opera House Release
In August 2017, the live album "Live at the Sydney Opera House" by Kate Miller-Heidke and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was released.
November 2017: Making Muriel Documentary
The documentary "Making Muriel," which included interviews with Miller-Heidke and Nuttall, aired on ABC TV in late November 2017.
November 2017: Muriel's Wedding Premiere
The musical theatre version of "Muriel's Wedding," with new music and lyrics co-written by Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, premiered in November 2017 at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in Sydney.
January 2018: Muriel's Wedding Run Ends
The Sydney run of the musical "Muriel's Wedding" ended in January 2018.
2018: Helpmann Awards and Twelfth Night
In 2018, Miller-Heidke won Best Original Score at the Helpmann Awards for "Muriel's Wedding." She and Nuttall also co-wrote the music for "Twelfth Night" performed by the Melbourne Theatre Company.
January 2019: Eurovision Song Contest Representation
Kate Miller-Heidke represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest in January 2019 with her song "Zero Gravity."
2019: Eurovision Song Contest
In 2019, Miller-Heidke represented Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Zero Gravity," placing ninth in the grand final and winning the Marcel Bezençon Award in the Artistic category.
2019: Muriel's Wedding Tour
The musical "Muriel's Wedding" toured Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane in 2019.
October 2020: "Child in Reverse" Album Release
Kate Miller-Heidke released "Child in Reverse" in October 2020.
October 2020: Child in Reverse Release and The Masked Singer
Miller-Heidke released her fifth studio album, "Child in Reverse," in October 2020, and was the runner-up on the second season of "The Masked Singer Australia."
2020: APRA Song of the Year Nomination
"Zero Gravity" was nominated for the APRA Song of the Year in 2020.
2021: Preppers and As You Like It
In 2021, Miller-Heidke appeared on "Preppers" and collaborated with Nuttall on music for "As You Like It."
2022: The Call and Darby and Joan
In 2022, Miller-Heidke and Nuttall co-composed "The Call" and the music for the television series "Darby and Joan."
2023: Bananaland and AFL Grand Final
In 2023, they wrote the musical "Bananaland" and Miller-Heidke performed at the AFL Grand Final.