‘Uncle Collie is in everything I do’: Sia delivers a heartfelt tribute to Men at Work frontman Colin Hay at LA awards ceremony and reveals how he inspired her to get into music
Sia gave a heartfelt tribute to fellow Australian, Men at Work frontman Colin Hay, 66, at the Global APRA Music Awards in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The notoriously private star, who referred to Colin as her ‘uncle’ on stage, presented him with the Distinguished Services Award.
During her emotional speech, the 44-year-old revealed how Colin inspired her to get into music when she was just 12 years old.
‘Uncle Collie is in everything I do’: Sia Furler (left), 44, delivered a heartfelt tribute to Men at Work frontman Colin Hay (right), 66, at the Global APRA Music Awards in Los Angeles on Wednesday
‘For those who don’t know, I was partially reared by Colin,’ Sia said as she made her way onto the stage.
‘I can’t believe it. I have known you the longest in the room, you met me when I was a baby. And you were nice to me and you are always nice to me.’
Sia’s father, blues guitarist Phil Colson, played in a band with Colin, and Sia once spent a month living with Colin and his family at their New York home.
During that time, the Chandelier artist accompanied Colin to the Grammy Awards at just 12 years old and watched the ceremony unfold from the comfort of a limousine.
‘I remember thinking, “This seems like a pretty good life”‘: During her emotional speech, Sia revealed how Colin inspired her to get into music when she was just 12 years old. She had accompanied him to the Grammy Awards and watched the ceremony from his limousine
Sia told the audience at the Global APRA Music Awards how that night inspired her to get into the industry.
‘I remember seeing it and watching Uncle Collie go up and accept an award and I remember thinking, “This seems like a pretty good life. Let’s all do this”.’
Shedding tears, she continued: ‘For those who have heard me sing, you will notice that Uncle Collie is in everything I do. And you are my favourite singer, so I love you.’
Emotional: Shedding tears, she continued: ‘For those who have heard me sing, you will notice that Uncle Collie is in everything I do. And you are my favourite singer, so I love you’
Collaborations: After relocating to New York in 2005, Sia collaborated with other artists on hits including David Guetta’s Titanium, Rihanna’s Diamonds and Flo Rida’s Wild Ones. Pictured in March 2019
After relocating to New York in 2005, Sia collaborated with other artists on hits including David Guetta’s Titanium, Rihanna’s Diamonds and Flo Rida’s Wild Ones.
It wasn’t until 2014 when her sixth studio album 1000 Forms of Fear catapulted Sia into another level of stardom.
The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and included the hit Chandelier, with a music video featuring Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler.
Sia has received nine Grammy Award nominations and performed at the Kardashian-Jenner Christmas party last year.
Breaking out: It wasn’t until 2014 when her sixth studio album 1000 Forms of Fear catapulted Sia into another level of stardom. Sia is known to sport a two-toned wig and statement bow