Competing in the Eurovision Song Contest has allowed a string of acts to launch successful careers, but Delta Goodrem is one of a handful to already have a huge international profile.
The Australian singer-songwriter was just 15 years old when she signed a recording contract with Sony Music, with her debut album Innocent Eyes then topping charts. In the UK it reached number nine and it still holds the title as one of the highest-selling Australian albums of all time.
In the 23 years since, she’s gone on to release a further six albums, selling more than nine million copies worldwide.
As her music career was taking off Delta was also cast in the beloved soap Neighbours, playing Nina Tucker over two years, and in more recent years has starred in a Netflix rom-com and featured as a coach on The Voice Australia.
But when it came time to take on her next challenge, she jumped at the chance to do something many people had been crossing their fingers for – but never thought would actually happen.
Earlier this year Delta, now 41, was announced as Australia’s act for Eurovision 2026, saying at the time she was honoured to represent her country ‘on one of the biggest and most iconic music stages in the world’.
After her name was first thrown into the mix several years ago, Delta told Metro the timing was never quite right until a query about whether she’d consider competing set things into motion.
‘When I was doing shows in Hackney last year, Eurovision was on and I was getting to see it for the first time,’ she explained.
‘Growing up in Australia you aren’t seeing it live unless you’re up at 5am. But last year I was asked if I was open to it, and I said I was, and then there were reports proclaiming, “Delta to do Eurovision”.
Soon after she began being flooded with calls from songwriters and music executives, with broadcaster SBS then offering her the spot.
‘When it eventually landed, I looked at it like “this is a bit wild and I’m excited” and I moved with passion. I was excited and I wanted to go and do this,’ she recalled.
Delta’s song Eclipse – which debuted at number thirteen on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Artist Singles Chart – has seen her soar to become one of the favourites to take out the entire contest, with current odds placing her just behind Finland, Greece and Denmark.
Fans have praised her ‘powerful’ and ‘breathtaking’ voice and declared the song gave them ‘goosebumps’ and was ‘winner material’.
‘I’ve loved seeing people take the song into their homes and hearts. It’s the first song off my new album, and to be able to be part of the iconic Eurovision family and to step into this world…I’ve been so grateful with people wrapping their arms around me and us being able to have a lot of fun and be there with the music,’ she said.
When asked if she felt she had an edge over the other acts due to her profile or felt pressure to do well because of how established her career already is, she refused to be drawn.
Instead, she said: ‘All I know is I really hope people enjoy what I do out there and they feel connected to what I’m doing, and that is my sole focus right now.
‘People who might have had my records for a long time or have been to my shows recently…I feel really grateful. But hopefully they will vote!’
In recent years many of the artists competing in Eurovision got their start on reality singing shows, with 18 of this year’s acts having done so.
However, Delta – who has also worked with previous Eurovision stars Celine Dion and Olivia Newton-John – is the only one to have actually mentored acts rather than competing herself.
Reflecting on her time as a coach on The Voice – which she appeared on across nine seasons from 2012 until 2020 – Delta said it ‘taught her so much’.
‘I was only 26 years old when I joined The Voice as a coach. I had started my career as a teenager and a decade later I was on this show with icons like Seal and Boy George and Keith Urban and Ricky Martin,’ she said.
‘They were at different stages in their careers, and each year another icon would join our stage, and I was always learning from them, as well as the artists. I am always learning and listening.
‘But on that show being surrounded by music and peoples’ dreams – you are celebrating and watching and studying. It was an incredible show to be a part of for so many years. I loved learning from everybody there, as well as shared what I was learning each year with my artists. Some of them were actually older than me too!’
Throughout her career Delta has faced several significant health hurdles – including being diagnosed with cancer when she was just 18 and later suffering a paralysed nerve in her tongue following 2018 salivary gland surgery, which left her unable to speak or sing properly for nearly a year.
Recently speaking about always ‘believing in the power of music’, Delta said she had always been moved by it, pointing to Eurovision as a place that also brings ‘healing power and hope and unity’.
Asked about the controversy surrounding this year’s contest and how five countries have decided to boycott due to Israel’s participation, she shared her thoughts on the matter.
‘With 70 years of Eurovision, I really love the power of music and the unifying nature of it,’ she said. ‘
‘I believe in the healing powers of music and what it does to bringing people together to sing the one song.
‘Music is so important to my heart and people’s hearts, so I think it’s important to focus on that and bring people together in song.’
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest runs from May 12-16.
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