He left home for the bright lights of Hollywood aged 16, just two years after winning Australia’s Got Talent in 2011.
But Jack Vidgen’s world fell apart when he failed to crack the U.S. market, telling WHO magazine this week that he ended up in a ‘pretty dark place’.
The 22-year-old, who is hoping for a career comeback on The Voice, explained that he spent a year trying to ‘make it’ in LA before giving up and quitting music.
My darkest hour: The Voice’s Jack Vidgen (pictured) revealed how his world fell apart when he failed to break America – leading to his dramatic transformation
‘It was pretty heavy for me, because after I left LA, I came back [Australia] and I got to a pretty dark place and it was horrible,’ he said.
Jack admitted that his devastating setback made him ‘fall out of love’ with music.
‘In a way, my first love, music, I fell out of love with it. It was like losing someone,’ he said. ‘Because music and singing have been my best friend my whole life – no-one realises I lost the love for it and it was heartbreaking.’
Shocking: Jack looks like a completely different person, eight years after winning Australia’s Got Talent. Slide right to see Jack in 2011, and left to see him today
After building up life experience and working several different ‘normal’ jobs, Jack is now stepping back into the spotlight with a whole new look.
He has undergone extensive cosmetic work, boasting artificially plump lips, a modelesque jawline and permanently arched eyebrows.
His changing appearance has left fans stunned ever since he was announced as an ‘all-star’ contestant on The Voice earlier this month.
Transformation: Now at the age of 22, Jack is stepping back into the spotlight with a brand new image. Pictured right: Jack in 2016. Pictured left: Jack in 2019
Several fans remarked on The Voice’s official Facebook page recently that Jack looks like a completely different person nowadays.
‘Changes his face and expects no one to notice, really?’ one person commented. Another wrote: ‘He’s definitely not the same person anymore’.
A third person observed: ‘Jack has had some work done on his face it seems, he looks nothing like that fresh-faced boy we knew.’
Remarkable: An audience member told Daily Mail Australia, ‘None of us realised it was him until he introduced himself as Jack, the kid from Australia’s Got Talent’. Pictured in 2012
Jack previously claimed on Twitter that changes to his appearance are simply the result of puberty, but he may have been joking.
He has also since acknowledged undergoing lip fillers, but steadfastly denies having full-blown plastic surgery.
After winning Australia’s Got Talent in 2011, Jack released two successful albums, and even reached No. 3 in the ARIA charts with his single Yes I Am.
But since parting ways with label Sony Music Australia in 2014, he has mostly stayed out of the celebrity spotlight.
Who’s that guy? Jack’s changing appearance has left fans stunned ever since he was announced as a contestant on The Voice earlier this month
‘I lost the love for it!’ Jack (pictured) admitted the temporary career setback made him ‘fall out of love’ with music
He is hoping that auditioning for The Voice will relaunch his career as a mature artist.
Reflecting on his teenage years in the spotlight, Jack said in a trailer for the show: ‘I went from being just some kid to fame and money and everything.
‘Somewhere along the line I just fell out of love with music. I quit completely. I just felt alone and at rock bottom. I haven’t been on a stage in over five years.’
The Voice continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine
Unrecognisable: The aspiring singer (right) has made several noticeable changes to his appearance, sporting much fuller lips and plumper cheeks. Pictured in Melbourne last month
