Kian Egan

Music career

Egan began his musical journey in a rock band called Skrod. He is a grade 8 pianist, taught by his brother Gavin Egan, a university music graduate and full-time music teacher in the UK, and can play at least five instruments including guitar, piano, and drums. Before Westlife, he was part of the pop group Six as One, later renamed IOYOU, alongside fellow Westlife members Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, as well as Graham Keighron, Michael "Miggles" Garrett, and Derrick Lacey.

After IOYOU was signed by Louis Walsh, the lineup changed to include Egan, Feehily, Filan, Nicky Byrne, and Brian McFadden, and the band's name changed to Westside and later Westlife. Westlife split 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 the 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, but they were dropped by Mercury Records four months later and eventually split up.

In January 2014, Egan signed with Rhino Records of Warner Music Group and released his debut album Home on 14 March 2014 in Ireland and 17 March in the UK. The debut single "Home", a cover of a song by Daughtry, had its first exclusive play on BBC Radio 2 at lunchtime with Terry Wogan's show. The album 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 "I'll Be", a cover of the track by Edwin McCain.

In October 2018, Westlife announced the group's reunion as a four-piece. In 2019, the group headlined "The 20 Tour", named in honor of Westlife's 20th anniversary since its formation and the release of its first single "Swear It Again" in 1999. They also released new music, including the single "Hello My Love", which debuted on The Graham Norton Show in January 2019.

Television career

Egan was one of four coaches on The Voice of Ireland. He supported contestant Jim Devine from Northern Ireland, but viewers there could not download his single before the final, the tally of which contributed to his vote. Egan expressed his frustration about this unfairness and had "huge rows" about it, seeking support from Sharon Corr. In June 2012, Egan told the Sunday Life he was "looking at doing a TV show with Sky on surfing", later reported to be an eight-episode series on Sky1.

In July 2012, he regularly presented This Morning's Hub as a stand-in host, and in October of that year he gave Friday reports on This Morning about the remaining contestants in the ninth series of The X Factor. On 21 October 2012, he co-presented the revamped version of Surprise Surprise but did not return the following year. In 2013, he appeared on the thirteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and was crowned King of the Jungle, which contributed to an invitation to being signed by Rhino Records to create his Home album. From 5 to 9 January 2015, he co-hosted Fat Pets: Slimmer of the Year on ITV with Angela Griffin.

Personal life

Kian Egan is the fifth of Kevin Egan (1945–2009) and Patricia Egan's 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.

Before Westlife, he worked at a jeans store. On 8 May 2009, he married English actress and Girl Thing and Wonderland member Jodi Albert. Due to illness, Egan's father was unable to attend the marriage ceremony after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumor and died shortly after. The couple have three sons: Koa, born on 20 December 2011; Zekey, born on 21 May 2015; and Cobi, born on 29 September 2017.

The family lives in Strandhill, County Sligo. 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. He was ranked number three on Ireland's Sexiest Man of 2014.