Cody Simpson has shared something very surprising that kept him grounded while living in Los Angeles at the height of his fame.
The 27-year-old singer and professional athlete appeared on Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie and told the hosts that his infrequent swims kept him in a good head space.
‘When I lived there, I didn’t swim for the most part. Towards the end, I really started to realize that I needed it because I missed it so much,” Cody said.
The Gold Coast-born singer lived in California from 2010 to 2020 while working on his singing career, but moved back to Australia after realizing how much he missed life Down Under.
Cody then made the announcement that he was finally done with competitive swimming and wanted to pursue other interests.
‘I’m done! I feel like I got what I want out of it. There’s so much more I’m excited about.”
Cody Simpson (pictured) has opened up about the very surprising thing that kept him grounded while living in Los Angeles at the height of his fame
Simpson was a promising junior swimmer, winning two gold medals at the 2009 Queensland state championships at the age of 12.
That same year, the singer-guitarist posted some songs on YouTube and was discovered by an American music manager – his family moved to Los Angeles in 2010 and fame followed.
Earlier this week, Cody revealed what his next career move will be.
The former swimming champion makes his Australian musical theater debut in a production of Guys & Dolls.
On Wednesday, Opera Australia announced that Simpson will star in their 2025 production of the classic musical.
Cody will play the lead role of Sky Masterton, who rose to fame in the 1955 film by acting legend Marlon Brando, starring opposite Frank Sinatra.
“The role of Sky has always been one of my dream roles since I was first introduced to the story and soundtrack of Guys & Dolls,” he said.
“I fell in love with film as a teenager when I first developed a passion for musical theater before my Broadway debut,” added Cody, who made his musical debut in 2018 after landing the lead role of Dmitry in Anastasia.
The 27-year-old singer and professional athlete appeared on Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie and told the hosts that his infrequent swims helped him stay in a good head space.
Cody then made the announcement that he was finally done with competitive swimming and wanted to pursue other interests
The five-time Tony Award-winning musical is filled to the brim with instantly recognizable tunes, including “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”
The production is directed by award-winner Shaun Rennie, designed by Brian Thomson, with costumes by Jennifer Irwin.
The production of the hit Broadway show will take place at the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbor from March 21 to April 20.
In addition to Simpson, it will star two of Australia’s favorite leading actors: Bobby Fox as Nathan Detroit, and Hamilton’s acclaimed breakout star Jason Arrow as the brutal villain Nicely-Nicely Johnson.
Celebrated musical theater artist Annie Aitken will also join the cast as Saint Sarah Brown, the object of Sky’s schemes and eventual love interest.
With music by Frank Loesser and a book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows, the five-time Tony Award-winning musical is filled to the brim with instantly recognizable tunes, including “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat.”
The production is directed by award-winner Shaun Rennie, designed by Brian Thomson, with costumes by Jennifer Irwin.
The production of the hit Broadway show will take place at the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbor from March 21 to April 20.
Cody was recently asked if he and partner or he and partner Emma McKeon, 30, are heading down the aisle.
“It’s not something we’ve talked about,” the pop star turned swimmer admitted, but waxed lyrical about their loving relationship.
“We have something that is beautiful, honest and pure,” Cody explained, adding that marriage was possible later.
“If something means enough to you and your family, means that much to me and will mean that much to me, it will always be part of the picture,” he added.