Idol's Kate rocks out in Lowood

AUSTRALIAN Idol sensation Kate Cook received a warm welcome when she returned home to Lowood yesterday.

Ms Cook, who wowed audiences and judges alike with a stunning self-written tune about her mum's death in 2000 on Sunday night's show, came home amid a flurry of media interviews.

The proud Lowood resident said the reception was overwhelming but encouraging.

“It's totally awesome. It really warms my heart to have everyone in my home town supporting me,” Ms Cook said.

“I'm just a country bumpkin from Lowood doing what I love. So it's awesome to have everyone behind me.”

Ms Cook was amazed to be selected as a finalist to be able to pursue her life-long dream.

“I'm loving every minute. I want to reach my full potential and I'm totally stoked,” she said.

“Hopefully this is my chance to shine.”

Ms Cook said singing from the heart was something she had been doing since she was a child.

“We were always singing as kids, so it's just something that evolved naturally,” she said.

“As a family we used to always sing around the camp fire.

“Us kids used to muck about and do skits and sing.

“My whole family has been so supportive of me and we haven't had this much joy in a very long time so I'm over the moon that I have gotten through.”

Lowood resident Heather Richards yesterday passed on her congratulations to Ms Cook for putting Lowood on the map with her amazing performance.

“She was just absolutely amazing. My whole family watched it and thought she did an excellent job. We will support her all the way,” Ms Richards said.

About 1.3 million Australians watched the return of Australian Idol on Sunday - the smallest debut figure in the show's history.

This year's show has a number of changes - it is without co-host James Mathison and musical director John Foreman.