EXCLUSIVE — “Holy f–k, she’s bringing it home!”
That was the unfiltered reaction of Delta Goodrem fans online when the Australian singer released her entry for this year’s Eurovision.
When I read the comment out to Goodrem over a video call, she didn’t just smile – she erupted into the infectious laughter that’s made her a national treasure.
Watch the video above.
“I love it, I love the passion, the positivity,” she told nine.com.au.
“I’m gonna take all this incredible good energy and vibes with me and fly over to Vienna with it all.”
Goodrem is jetting off to Vienna to represent the nation in the annual European song contest; Australia has been invited as a guest nation since 2015.
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Her entry, Eclispe, features a dramatic chorus and melodic belting only a seasoned pro like Goodrem could pull off.
The singer says there are some surprises in store for her performance, including a potential cameo from her husband and band member, Matthew Copley.
Goodrem confirmed he will be joining her in Vienna, before joking, “I can’t tell you any more details than that.”
“He’s very excited to be there and support, I’m very grateful for him to be there with me.”
Australia has never won Eurovision before. The closest we got was Dami Im’s performance of The Sound of Silence in 2016, which put her in second place.
Goodrem could change that.
Traditionally, the winner of Eurovision hosts the following year’s contest in their home country.
However, Eurovision has said that if Australia were to win, it wouldn’t be able to host the concert Down Under.
“We’d be an amazing [Eurovision] host … we’ve got the most beautiful country.”
Instead, SBS would co-host the broadcast in collaboration with another European broadcaster.
However, Goodrem said that if she were to win, she thinks they should make an exception.
“We’d be an amazing host,” she said.
“Everyone coming to Australia, we’ve got the most beautiful country, we’d be great … we’d put on an incredible hosting.”
When I suggested it could be hosted at the Opera House forecourt, she replied, “There’s plenty of places. We can brainstorm this … I’d get 9Honey involved, [and ask] ‘OK, where are we going?'”
With all the fanfare of Eurovision comes the same comments that arise each year, questioning Australia’s inclusion in the contest in the first place.
The Eclipse singer said she pays no attention to such remarks.
“I think that we saw was an awesome music show … I’m really happy that we’re a part of it. We’re there for a great time, and we give it a go!” she said.
“When [Eurovision] had seen how involved Australia was when it came to getting involved with the contest from a far, it made logical sense [to invite us].
“I think we’re the only country part of it that’s not part of Europe … we’re always visiting anyway!”
As the show approaches, Goodrem told nine.com.au she feels “honoured and grateful” to follow in the footsteps of her biggest inspiration, Olivia Newton-John, who died in 2022 after a battle with breast cancer.
While Goodrem is representing Australia, Newton-John represented the UK when she hit the Eurovision stage in 1974.
“I feel so inspired by the fact that my dearest love, Olivia Newton-John, and Celine Dion have both been on the Eurovision stage,” she said.
“I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without them. They’re [my] inspiration. I’m really grateful that, as fate would have it, this year I get to be part of it as well.”
Goodrem and Newton-John were close friends, with the Born To Try singer ever portraying the Grease icon in a TV miniseries in 2018.
The Eurovision Song Contest airs 13-17 May exclusively on SBS and SBS On Demand.
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