Content warning: This article mentions fertility struggles. Help is always available. If you or someone you know needs support, contact IVF Australia on 1800 111 483, or visit the website.
Former Australian Idol star Casey Donovan has shared an exciting family update – she is expecting a baby!
The singer, who has previously been open about her fertility struggles, shared the news on October 3 on Instagram.
“After extensive research, clinical assessment and absolutely no musical rehearsal… Baby arriving February 2027 👩🏻🐰👩🏾👶🏽✨️@renee.sharples,” she wrote in the caption.
In the leading picture, she’s holding a “Cool Bubs Club” onesie while her fiancée, Renee Sharples, holds a collection of ultrasound photos.
But it turns out another bundle of joy is on the way!
“That’s two baby Donovans arriving in Feb 🙂 Me and one of your many, many cousins are having a little girl,” her cousin, Emma Kelly, revealed in the comment section.
Casey admitted to the The Daily Telegraph that it had been “a busy last year” for her and Renee when it came to work and family life.
“Also coming off the back of, for me, five years on the road with musical theatre, and everything coming to a halt, and then pumping myself full of these hormones and having PMOS or PCOS,” she told the publication.
The singer has been open about living with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), which was previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS, and was told from a young age that it would be hard for her to get pregnant.
Despite the happy news, the Australian Idol star admitted that she still didn’t believe she was pregnant. Renee admitted that they didn’t expect it to happen so soon.
The couple added they don’t know the gender and plan to keep it a surprise.
For now, they have affectionately nicknamed their bundle of joy “the tenant”.
Casey’s challenging journey to motherhood
The singer previously shared she was undergoing “back-to-back IVF egg retrievals” in the hope of having a baby with her fiancée.
The duo – who met on the dating app Bumble during the Covid pandemic and got engaged in June 2024 – have been discussing having a family for some time.
While Renee has already had some eggs retrieved, Casey, 38, said she wanted to do the same, and the couple did their first embryo transfer in April.
In May, Casey shared a heartbreaking update with fans writing on her Instagram Stories, “For those playing along at home… We got the call this afternoon, and the transfer was unsuccessful.”
“@renee.sharples and I are so thankful and grateful for all of your love, kind words, thoughts, prayers and all of the sticky baby dust. The show must and will go on Xxx.”
She initially shared the news about the embryo transfer on April 21 via Instagram.
“I got the 6 am flight back from Sydney to Melbourne and after a massive weekend of amazing shows in NSW it was great to be home into the loving arms of my love and put my legs up…Literally 💃🏾,” she wrote.
In the video, she shared her journey to the clinic with her partner and a photo of the embryo scan, which had her name on it. At the end of the video, she thanked the staff and the fertility nurses for their work and support.
“Now we wait… What will be will be. Sending all of the love, light and baby dust to all who are on an IVF journey ✨️,” she continued in her caption.
In November 2025, she opened up to News.com.au on her fertility journey.
“This has always been an option, and now I’m just starting to action everything because I’m not getting any younger, as the doctors keep telling me,” the star said in the candid interview.
“Life doesn’t slow down for women, or anyone in general. But when you’re trying to calculate IVF, drugs, injections, live music, writing, you just somehow managed to fit it in.”
She said it was about juggling it with her performance schedule.
“Having a national tour booked in is such an exciting thing,” the performer told the publication. “People gig while they’re pregnant all the time, so it’s just kind of a beautiful balancing act.
“And my manager, KL, is such a genius when it comes to putting things in place. So I’m excited for what next year holds, including the tour and possibilities of a little two-legged Donovan running around.”
Life is certainly looking good for Casey – who told the Daily Telegraph in March 2024 that she was in a “very happy, secure place”.
“I’ve done so much growing over the last 35, almost 36 years, and in the last 20 years growing up in the spotlight and on TV, and in magazines and having my life kind of sprawled across all the media outlets,” she said.
“It has taken me to find the love of my life and to kiss a few frogs – and go through a very big part of my life that was challenging – to find confidence and happiness within myself.”
Who is Casey Donovan’s partner Renee Sharple?
Renee – a lecturer in paramedicine – appears to be the singer’s perfect match.
“You can’t rely on other people, and you have to give that love back to yourself,” Casey told the Daily Telegraph.
“Someone should only add to the joy and the happiness of your life. You shouldn’t have to wait to find that missing piece.
“And it took me many years – some people never realise that in their lifetime. It has taken me to find someone that brings so much joy and happiness, and adds much to my life, and doesn’t hold love against me like it can be taken away.”
Speaking previously to our sister publication Woman’s Day, Casey also revealed how she and Renee connected over video dates on Zoom – with the star relishing Renee’s great “banter”.
“When I logged into our first Zoom date and saw that Renee had set it up in a cafe, it was so sweet… [it was] even better when she asked me what kind of coffee I wanted,” Casey revealed.
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