Marcia Hines

Marcia Hines is an African American born female singer who emigrated to Australia, where she became a citizen in 1994 after her string of hit singles in the late 1970s. In spite of being American, she also came to inspire aboriginal Australians. Her daughter, Demi Hines, who was born in Australia, and has also had a moderately successful singing career, has been regularly incorrectly listed as aboriginal. Marcia Hines's race and nationality has always been a major topic of discussion with regards to her popularity, either supporting her or opposing her because of it.

Marcia Hines became a judge of Australian Idol in 2003, as one of the initial judges, and, as at 2008, is the only judge who has been there for all 6 seasons (Ian Dickson started but left for 2 years, Mark Holden was dumped for 2007 and Kyle Sandilands did not start with the show). As a judge, Marcia Hines was known as the only nice one, playing a similar role to Paula Abdul on American Idol. Since the initial season in 2003, however, the other judges have on occasions been kind when it was deserved, and Marcia has at times been mean. As a probable result of her influence, a disproportionately large number of black females have done well in the show, even though they make up only 2% of the population, with 2004 winner Casey Donovan and 2006 runner up Jessica Mauboy both being aboriginal women. Black men, on the other hand, have not done well at all.

Marcia Hines was inducted into the ARIA hall of fame in 2007 and continues to release new singles, with a single released in 2006 making it to the top 10 in Australia, and her releasing a new album in 2007.