Kian Egan
Kian John Francis Egan (born 29 April 1980) is an Irish pop singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of pop group Westlife. Westlife has released twelve albums, embarked on thirteen world tours, and won numerous awards, becoming one of the most successful musical groups of all time. Egan was a judge and coach on The Voice of Ireland and won the thirteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2013.
Kian Egan | |
|---|---|
 Egan in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kian John Francis Egan |
| Born | 29 April 1980 Sligo, Ireland |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Westlife |
Music career
1997–2012: Westlife and Wonderland
In his early musical years, Egan was part of a rock band named Skrod. He can play at least five musical instruments, including guitar, piano, and drums. He is a grade 8 pianist and was taught piano by his brother Gavin Egan, a university music graduate and full-time teacher of music in the UK. Before he was in Westlife, Egan was part of a pop group called Six as One, which later changed its name to IOYOU, with fellow Westlife members Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, alongside Graham Keighron, Michael "Miggles" Garrett and Derrick Lacey.
After IOUYOU was signed by Louis Walsh, its lineup changed to include Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan and two new members - Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden. The band's name changed to Westside and later to Westlife. Westlife split up in 2012 after a Greatest Hits Tour.
During a year long hiatus from Westlife in 2008, Egan launched a new venture with Louis Walsh to put together and co-manage girlband, Wonderland, which included Jodi Albert, who later became Egan's wife. Wonderland's debut album reached number 6 on the Irish Albums Chart and number 8 on the UK Albums Chart, however, just four months later, they were dropped by Mercury Records and eventually split up.
2014: Home
In January 2014, Egan signed with Rhino Records of Warner Music Group and his debut album Home was released on March 14 of that year in Ireland and March 17 in the UK. His debut single "Home", a cover of a song by band Daughtry, had its first exclusive play on BBC Radio 2 on lunch time with Terry Wogan's show. The album has peaked at number 2 on the Irish Singles Chart and number 9 on the UK Albums Chart. In May 2014, Egan released the second single from the album, "I'll Be", a cover of the track by Edwin McCain.
2018–present: Westlife reunion
In October 2018, Westlife announced the group's reunion as a four-piece. In 2019, the group headlined "The 20 Tour", named in honour of Westlife's 20th anniversary since its formation and the release of its first single, "Swear It Again", in 1999. In addition to touring, Westlife also released new music. "Hello My Love", the first single from the group's upcoming album, debuted on The Graham Norton Show in January 2019.
Television career
Egan was one of four coaches on The Voice of Ireland.[1] However, his dreams of winning the show went to tatters as he threw his lot in with Jim Devine, from Northern Ireland. This immediately put him at a disadvantage to the other contestants as, ahead of the final, viewers in Northern Ireland could not download his single, the tally of which contributed to his vote. Egan was left fuming and in need of support from Sharon Corr as he expressed his opinion on the unfairness of it all and had "huge rows" about it but to no avail.[2][3]
In June 2012, Egan announced in an interview with the Sunday Life that he was "looking at doing a TV show with Sky on surfing". Later reports suggested that the show would be eight episodes long and would broadcast on Sky1 later in the year.[4]
In July 2012, Egan presented the British programme This Morning's Hub on a regular basis, standing in for the regular hosts. Later that year, every Friday morning in October, he began giving reports on another British programme This Morning about the remaining contestants in the ninth series of The X Factor, before the competition's live shows that weekend.
On 21 October 2012, Egan co-presented the revamped version of Surprise Surprise, but did not return the following year.
In 2013, Egan appeared on the thirteenth series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!. He was ultimately crowned King Of The Jungle, which contributed to an invitation to being signed by Rhino Records to create his Home album.[5]
From 5 to 9 January 2015, Egan and Angela Griffin co-hosted Fat Pets: Slimmer of the Year on ITV.[6]
Personal life
Egan was born to Kevin Egan (1945–2009) and Patricia Egan (née Moore). He is the fifth of their seven children. His older siblings are Vivienne, Gavin, Fenella and Thomas, and his younger siblings are Marielle and Colm. He attended Summerhill College secondary school in Sligo, where he met fellow band members Mark Feehily and Shane Filan. He is the cousin of Filan's wife, Gillian Walsh.[7] Before Westlife, he worked at a jeans store.
Egan married English actress and Girl Thing and Wonderland member Jodi Albert on 8 May 2009. Due to illness, Egan's father was unable to attend the marriage ceremony after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumour, and died shortly after. On 31 July 2011, the couple announced they were expecting their first child.[8] Westlife's official Facebook page announced that Albert had given birth to a baby boy, Koa, on 20 December 2011.[9] On 15 November 2014, the pair announced they were expecting their second child in the spring. On 21 May 2015, Egan and his wife welcomed a second son, Zekey.[10] Their third son, Cobi, was born 29 September 2017. The family live in Strandhill, County Sligo.[11]
Egan spoke of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but said he would not go after the Republic of Ireland national football team was eliminated from the tournament after Thierry Henry's handball.[12]
Egan was ranked number five on Ireland's Sexiest Man of 2014.[13] As of 2017, his net worth is 18 million euros.[14]
Philanthropy
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRE [15] |
UK [16] |
SCO [17] | ||
| Home |
|
2 | 9 | 6 |
Selected filmography
- Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Louis Walsh & Kian Egan's Next Big Thing – Wonderland | Co-star | With Louis Walsh |
| 2012–2016 | The Voice of Ireland | Coach/Judge | |
| 2012–2014 | This Morning | Hub presenter and reporter | |
| 2012 | Surprise Surprise | Reporter | |
| 2013 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! | Contestant | Won the series |
| 2015 | Fat Pets: Slimmer of the Year | Presenter | With Angela Griffin |
- Guest appearances
- Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding Dong (31 October 2008) – Guest
- Lorraine (15 November 2010, 7 March 2011) – Guest
- Celebrity Juice (23 December 2010, 5 April 2012, 13 March 2014) – Panellist
- Loose Women (14 November 2011) – Guest
- Daybreak (9 November 2012) – Guest
- Fake Reaction (24 January 2013) – Guest
- 8 Out of 10 Cats (8 February 2013) – Panellist
- Your Face Sounds Familiar (27 July 2013) – Guest judge
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (19 December 2013) – Contestant with Rebecca Adlington
- The Cube: Celebrity Special (22 February 2014) – Contestant
- The Wright Stuff (28 March 2014) – Panellist
- The Guess List (3 May 2014) – Guest
- Sunday Brunch (4 May 2014) – Guest
- Weekend (10 May 2014) – Guest
- TV OD (5 June 2014) – Guest
- All Star Mr & Mrs (25 June 2014)[18] – Contestant
- Through the Keyhole (20 September 2014) – Panellist
- Would I Lie to You? (26 September 2014) – Panellist
Honours and awards
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Smash Hits Awards | Best Haircut | Won |
References
- Finn, Melanie (28 October 2011). "Bressie's in the hotseat in search for the Voice". Evening Herald. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- "Kian Egan "fuming" over Voice scandal". 98FM. Communicorp – owned by Denis O'Brien. 26 April 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- "Sharon offers Kian support". 98FM. Communicorp – owned by Denis O'Brien. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- RCTVIreland (2 July 2012). "Special K – Red Carpet TV Episode 7". Archived from the original on 12 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- Busk-Cowley, Mark (2014). I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!: The Inside Story. Bantam Press. pp. 215, 219. ISBN 978-0-593-07348-3.
- "Fat Pets: Slimmer of the Year Episode 1". Itv.com.
- "Kian Tried To Stop Cousin From Dating Westlife Bandmate – popdirt.com". popdirt.com.
- "Westlife's Kian Egan and wife Jodi Albert are expecting their first child". heatworld.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- "Familiar much? Little cool dude Koa rides the waves like daddy Kian Egan". evoke.ie. 25 April 2015. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- "Kian Egan and Jodi Albert expecting second child". Irish Independent. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- "Judge tells Westlife's Kian Egan 'raise wall up' to keep fans at bay". Belfast Telegraph – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
- Nadia Neophytou. Westlife looks forward to World Cup Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Eyewitness News.
- JANEH (20 July 2014). "POLL: WHO IS IRELAND'S SEXIEST MAN?". RSVP Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014.
- "Kian Egan reveals why he will never take his riches for granted". 10 June 2017. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017.
- Peak positions in Ireland:
- For all except noted: Hung, Steffen. "Discography Kian Egan". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
- For "Home": "Chart Archive > 20 March 2014". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
- For all except noted: "Kian Egan > UK Charts". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
- For "Home": "CHART: CLUK Update 29 March 2014 (wk12)". Zobbel.de/. Official Charts Company.
- Peak positions for albums in Scotland:
- For Home: "Chart Archive > 29 March 2014". Official Charts Company. 29 March 2014.
- "All Star Mr & Mrs Episode 3". Itv.com.
