Sunshine Coast singer/songwriter Chris “SESE” Cobb has scored a rare four-chair turn on TV’s The Voice Australia on Monday night.

And in an unexpected twist, it was revealed the Papua New Guinean-born musician, who is a celebrity in his home country, is personally related to Irish superstar Ronan Keating.

Chris is starring in the show’s 14th season, which premiered on Sunday.

Delivering an emotionally-charged performance of Cold Chisel’s “When the War Is Over” in his Blind Audition, it was Ronan’s chair which turned first, drawn in by Chris’s rich vocal tone.

As his song hit its emotional peak, co-judges Richard Marx, Melanie C and Kate Miller-Heidke all followed suit, equally smitten with the Mooloolah Valley family man.

Last year Marshall Hamburger from Doonan, who plays at The Station on August 30, won his season of The Voice.

Chris joins other popular competing locals, tarot-card slinger Milly Monk, who chose Team Ronan, and Brenton Kneen, from Cooroibah, who opted for Team Kate.

Brenton, who has a new song out “If You Need Me”, told Ronan he knows the star’s mother-in-law, after Ronan said his wife Storm was a Queenslander.

Picture: Irish superstar Ronan Keating says he is related to Sunshine Coast singer/songwriter Chris Cobb (supplied).

Ronan’s personal connection to local celebrity

After turning his chair for Chris, Ronan explained to the audience that Storm (pictured via Facebook), shares a family connection to Chris, after growing up in PNG.

He said he did not know that Chris was competing on the show.

Ronan then revealed that his wife is cousin to Chris’s partner Kalo, inviting them to “come home” to Team Ronan.

A mainstay on the Sunshine Coast live music scene

Chris has made a name for himself in the region’s thriving hinterland and coastal music scenes.

His soulful vocals, infectious energy, and signature kangaroo leather hat, have made him a stand-out. And he’s toured with local greats such as Andrea Kirwin (pictured).

From beachside bars to hinterland weddings, Chris infuses his sets with traditional Pacific rhythms, acoustic soul, and a hint of country.

And it’s all inspired by the two-way radio music of his Bulolo childhood.

“PNG will always be home. And I hope I put on an audition that makes my wantoks proud,” he says.

“Just getting to perform in front of these celebrities is already a win for me. If I turn a chair, then everything after that is just icing on the cake.”

Dreaming about The Voice since he was a kid

Out of tens of thousands of hopefuls, Chris was one of 48 contestants chosen to audition on the show.

“I grew up watching The Voice,” he says.

“As a young PNG boy, I never imagined it was a dream I could actually turn into reality.

“Kalo saw the ad for video auditions and mentioned it to me—and I said, ‘let’s give it a crack.’

“Getting the call-up to perform in front of artists I’ve admired for years has been an incredibly exciting and fulfilling milestone in my musical path.”

Born in Rabaul, Chris began carving his musical pathway from humble beginnings at his local golf club in Bulolo. He eventually performed at top venues and major events across Port Moresby.

After leaving the corporate world to pursue music full-time in 2022, he launched a talent agency, before migrating to Australia.

In the midst of the production, Chris and Kalo welcomed a new son, expanding their growing family.

Check out Yelo’s feature story on Chris Cobb when he first appeared on the Sunshine Coast music scene.