South West singers through to Idol Top 12 - Busselton’s Phoebe Stewart earning a touchdown

Busselton teenager Phoebe Stewart has been sent straight to the Top 12 of Australian Idol, securing one of four coveted “touch downs”. It comes as the shows two remaining South West singers made it through to the next round of the competition, following Monday night’s episode. The youngest competitor this season, the 15-year-old was one of two touchdown recipients on Monday night, winning over the heart of judge Meghan Trainor with her performance of Florence and the Machine’s You’ve Got the Love. So enthralled by the singer’s talent, Trainor was lost for words when the song came to an end, left with no choice but to deliver the honour of sending Phoebe through to the Top 12. “Ok I’ve got to say words, ok I can’t say words,” she said. “It’s a touchdown! Yeah baby! I love you, touchdown.” Notoriously “tough to impress” judge Kyle Sandilands couldn’t hide his praise, calling the teenager a name to remember. “Phoebe Stewart. That’s a name people are going to remember,” he said. “Every time I see you I forget how good you are. “It’s like you’ve lived a thousand lives.” Sandilands must have been in positive mindset last night, also giving away his touchdown to Melbourne vocalist Maya Weiss. With only two Top 12 places left to give away on the night, tension’s ran high through the six remaining singers. However, it was Margaret River artist Sash Seabourne who clinched one spot, taking a “risk” with his electric rendition of Kings of Leon classic Sex On Fire. Best known for his acoustic, stripped back performances throughout the competition so far, the 25-year-old said he wanted to show-off his diversity as an artist. “I want to prove to the judges that I can do more than one style of music,” he said ahead of his performance. “I think there’s enough long-haired, folky songwriter guys in Australia.” Alongside Seabourne, 18-year-old Harry Hayden from Melbourne secured the final Top 12 spot for the episode, following an emotional performance of Hozier’s Take Me To Church.