Australian pop star Delta Goodrem is aiming to secure the country's first Eurovision victory as she competes in Vienna with her song "Eclipse". Following Australia's failure to qualify last year, Goodrem enters Saturday's final as one of the favourites, having received one of the biggest cheers during Thursday's semi-final.
The 41-year-old singer and actress is a household name in Australia and known globally for her role in the soap opera Neighbours. Her debut album, Innocent Eyes, released in 2003 when she was 18, remains one of Australia's highest-selling records and reached number two in the UK, featuring hits like "Born to Try" and "Lost Without You".
Goodrem's career was interrupted when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma less than four months after the album's release. She underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, later recalling the challenge of losing her hair as a teenager. "It changed the trajectory of my life completely," she said. She made a full recovery and has since released six more albums, including five number ones in Australia.
In 2018, Goodrem suffered paralysis of a nerve in her tongue during salivary gland surgery, requiring rehabilitation to relearn speech and singing. She described the experience as a "reset moment" in her life. Her most recent album, Bridge Over Troubled Dreams, topped the Australian chart in 2021.
Speaking about representing Australia at Eurovision, Goodrem said: "It's truly an honour. Eurovision is one of the most iconic global music stages, and to represent Australia is something I feel incredibly proud of." Her song "Eclipse" is about "those rare, powerful moments in life where everything aligns". She added that winning would be "a moment shared with everyone who has supported me" but that she already feels grateful to be part of the event.
