Ellen embraces her new role as reality TV judge

ELLEN Reed had made the transition from reality TV contestant to judge.

The flame-haired Elimbah songstress, who made it to the grand final of The Voice two years ago, is now on the other side of the microphone as part of an expert panel on Channel 7's All Together Now.

The new singing competition, hosted by Julia Zemiro, follows amateur and semi-professional singers as they try to impress 100 music makers. Their score is determined by how many judges they can get standing up and singing along.

The grand final winner will take home $100,000 but there's no pressure to sign a recording contract or release a winner's single.

Julia Zemiro and Ronan Keating host the new singing show All Together Now, which features a panel of 100 judges including Queenslander Ellen Reed. Channel 7

"I'd seen the audition notice around and I thought it was a cool looking competition," Ms Reed told the Daily.

"I liked that the prize was just money and not a recording contract.

"We've had season after season of these standard reality singing shows, but this is something new. I think Australia will be really pleasantly surprised to see we have some amazing talent that has not been seen on any of these kind of shows before."

Ms Reed knows all too well the uphill battle singers face after appearing on a reality TV show.

Despite her success on The Voice, she faced rejection from industry figures who told her she didn't have the right look.

"I've had some struggles with a manger and I've gone back to managing myself," she said.

"I've never been signed to a record label after the show, so any music I've released has been completely independently out of my own pocket. Recording is an expensive venture.

"This industry is such a roller coaster. I can't seem to take myself off the ride yet, so here we are."

Sitting amongst the likes of Ronan Keating, Silvie Paladino and Rhonda Burchmore, Ms Reed soaked up everything she could from her fellow judges.

"It was an incredible experience and something I will not forget anytime soon," she said.

"Sitting with some of the best people in the industry, hearing their opinions on artists and having really amazing conversations, I feel like I'm a better performer now because of what I've seen on stage and everything I've learned."

Ms Reed will release the music clip for her new single, Selfish, in the coming weeks.

All Together Now premieres tomorrow at 7pm on Seven.