It didn’t take fans long to recognise The Voice 2025 contestant Cassie Henderson, who’s already a successful artist in New Zealand — sparking accusations that she might be an industry plant.
In 2024, the 26-year-old released her single Seconds to Midnight, which stayed at number one on the RadioScope NZ Airplay Charts for 15 weeks. She went on to win Best Pop Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards earlier in 2025.
Cassie also came fifth on X Factor New Zealand in 2013 when she was just 14 years old, and recently opened for US star Alex Warren’s tour leg in New Zealand
Industry accomplishments as impressive as these are rare for a The Voice contestant, as the show usually propels unknown artists into the spotlight.
On TikTok, fans started to question why seemingly successful artists were auditioning for the show. “They do know she has been hugely successful already, hey?” one person said after the judges all turned their chairs for Cassie.
The Voice Australia’s Cassie Henderson responds to speculation that she’s an industry plant
As speculation grew, ZM New Zealand radio hosts Bree and Clint asked Cassie directly whether she was an industry plant.
“No, sadly, I’m not,” Cassie responded. “I have been working so hard for the past five years.
“I think people think I’m too established to do something like this, because there’s a misconception that I have, like, a big label deal and, like, this big team behind me. But the reality is I’m living with my parents in, like, a dungeon doing all of this mostly myself.
“So it’s really important for us to get out onto the international stage, and I really just wanted to try and challenge myself and see if I could rise up to that and try and make Kiwis proud.”
Are there any other established artists on The Voice Australia 2025?
While The Voice Australia 2025 Blind Auditions are still ongoing and all the teams haven’t been completed yet, there’s already another recognisable name among the mix.
Charlie O’Derry, who is part of Kate Miller-Heidke’s team, recently went on tour with Thelma Plum, and released his first single earlier this year.
In past seasons, The Voice Australia has also seen its fair share of familiar faces, including Jack Vidgen, who won Australia’s Got Talent in 2011; Lee Harding, who rose to fame on Australian Idol in 2005; Chris Sebastian, brother of Guy Sebastian.
The Voice Australia airs on Sundays at 7pm and Monday and Tuesday and 7:30pm on Channel Seven and 7plus.
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