A year ago, while touring the UK, a British newspaper asked Delta Goodrem whether she would consider competing in the Eurovision Song Contest. She replied: “Of course I would do Eurovision, I love it!”
A year later, Goodrem confirms that remark sparked discussions leading to her representing Australia at the 70th annual Eurovision Song Contest in May.
“That’s 70 years of music being a part of people’s lives and hearts, every single year,” Goodrem says. “The two greatest influences in my life, my dear mentor Olivia Newton-John, and Celine Dion [whose hit Eyes on Me was co-written by Goodrem], have both been a part of this stage. So it’s a really special stage, and one I’m honoured to be on.”
In its decade-long association with Eurovision, Australia has sent a range of artists, but rarely one with Goodrem’s chart history. The 41-year-old has been a professional musician for three decades, with nine No.1 singles, 8 million albums sold globally and 12 ARIA awards.
A Shift in Australia’s Eurovision Strategy
Goodrem’s selection represents a shift in Australia’s Eurovision choices, which have previously focused on smaller, emerging acts.
Keeping the announcement under wraps proved difficult, with speculation building on fan sites and at recent music festivals, including London’s Mighty Hoopla.
Goodrem will perform Eclipse at Eurovision, which takes place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, in May. She co-wrote the song with Ferras Alqaisi, Jonas Myrin and Michael Fatkin.
The song blends dance and disco with emotional lyrics, including the lines: “One touch. One kiss. All my life for a night like this.”
Australia’s Eurovision Performance History
Australia has struggled to consistently reach the Eurovision grand final, failing to qualify in 2024 and 2025.
Goodrem’s approach to the competition, focusing on unity and the “healing powers of music,” comes amid a backdrop of geopolitical controversy, with some countries withdrawing in protest.
Data suggests that soloists with minimal staging have a 50 per cent chance of winning, while high-energy performances have a 45 per cent chance.
The Eurovision Song Contest will be televised live on SBS and SBS On Demand, May 13-17.
Michael Idato is the culture editor-at-large of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Connect via X or email.