Karin Kortje

Karin Kortje (born 12 August 1980) is the winner of the third season of Idols in South Africa.

After announcing the winner on 27 November 2005, M-Net released the voting results for the top 12. During each week's count Karin received the most votes and was thus the most popular contestant during the entire Idols III. Karin received 65% of the final votes.

• Group stages (Group 2): Ordinary People (John Legend)
• Group stages (Group 2): A Cry, A Smile (Judith Sephuma)
• Top 12: Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)
• Top 11: Un-Break My Heart (Toni Braxton)
• Top 10: Can't Fight the Moonlight (LeAnn Rimes)
• Top 9: (They Long to Be) Close to You (The Carpenters)
• Top 8: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin)
• Top 8: Together Again (Janet Jackson)
• Top 6: Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) (Diana Ross)
• Top 6: If I Can't Have You (Yvonne Elliman)
• Top 5: Never Never Never (Shirley Bassey)
• Top 5: Never Too Much (Mary J. Blige)
• Top 4: When I Need You (Leo Sayer)
• Top 4: I Have Nothing (Whitney Houston)
• Top 2: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin)
• Top 2: If I Can't Have You (Yvonne Elliman)
• Top 2: I'm So Ready (The winner's single)

Shortly after winning the third season of Idols, South Africa, Karin released a three track mini album through Record Label Sony BMG which featured her winning single "I'm So Ready" the Christmas carol "Joy to the World" and covered the John Legend hit "Ordinary People" which she also performed during the Live shows. The mini album was released a week after Karin won the reality competition and her debut single "I'm So Ready" received frequent airplay on radio stations nationwide. In January of the 2006 Karin started working on her debut album Kortje wanted the songs to have an inspirational message. The album was released through major Record Label Sony BMG on 11 November 2006 entitled "Forever and a Day" the album received generally positive reviews from critics and the title track "Forever and a Day" which was the first single of the LP received much praise. The album ended up exceeding sales reaching Gold Status in South Africa selling just over 20 000 copies. The album spamed four radio singles in total "Forever and a Day" "I'm So Ready" "Never Never Never" "If I Can't Have You" Karin met former South Africa President, Nelson Mandela shortly after winning Idols South Africa season 3 . In 2006 Karin won the You Magazine You Spectacular award for "News Maker of the Year". Karin has since graced the covers of several magazines including Sarie, Huisgenootand You magazines. Karin then took a break from the lime light.

Karin married Shaundore Aspeling on 29 August 2009 in her hometown Grabouw. Gift Gwe, runner–up in Idols Season 3, performed for her on her wedding day.

• "You Spectacular Awards 2006"

News Maker of the Year Won

• "ABSA Kana Awards 2013"

Best Musical Production Karin Kortje "Die Hele Storie" Nomination

Karin teamed with new management in 2009 releasing a brand new single much more up-tempo offering "Love in the First Degree" independently. The song shot up the Charts going straight to the number 1 spot on both Good Hope FM and Heart 104.9 FM's SA TOP 10 Charts. The song charted for numerous weeks and exceeded expectations by keeping the number one spot for several consecutive weeks on both charts. "Love in the First Degree" was also featured on DJ Keith album. Karin also recorded a Christmas classic "Hark The Angels" for the Good Hope FM Christmas album which was released in December 2009. In 2011 Karin released her first and only Gospel single entitled "Discovering" the single was released in CD format. Karin performed the single on South African comedian Soli Philander's Television show "Taxi vision" Live

In 2011 Karin Kortje starred in the musical "This Is My Life" telling her life story, before, during and after Idols, alongside Idols South Africa Winner Season 4 Jody Williams (Afrikaans singer) . The show ran for a second season. This time featuring Karin and Emo Adams older brother Loukmaan Adams. one of Karin's most memorable career highlights was performing in Sydney Australia in 2012. Karin also performed alongside the legendary Judy Boucher in the Divas show in 2012. In 2013 Karin took her life story to the ABSA KKNK this time it was a one-woman show "Die Held Store" and it was in Afrikaans . The show received a ABSA Kana award nomination. Karin returned to the ABSA KKNK stage in 2014 this time performing on the TOP 40 stage. Karin was also one of the official opening acts alongside LeAnne Dlamini and Belinda Davids in the "Divas 2014" show which featured International R&B GRAMMY AWARD nominated sensation TAMIA on 26 April 2014 in Grand Arena Grand West Cape Town. The Show was part of Tamia's South Africa three City tour (Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth)

Albums

• Idols 3: The Top 12 (November 2005)
• Forever and a Day (November 2006)

Singles

• I'm So Ready (November 2005)
• Forever and a Day
• "Never Never Never"
• "If I Can't Have You"
• "Love in the First Degree" (2009)
• "Hark The Angels" (2009)
• "Discovering" (2011)