Eurovision 2026: Five things you might not know about Delta Goodrem

Kyriakos Tsinivits
28 minutes ago
5 min read

We take a look at five things you might not know about Australia's own Delta Goodrem, who is competing at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with her song Eclipse.

From chart-topping hits to an enduring presence in Australian music, Delta Goodrem has built a career that spans decades and continues to evolve.

While many know her for iconic songs and chart success, there’s much more to her story.

From behind-the-scenes challenges to lesser-known career moments and personal triumphs, we look at five things you might not know about Delta Goodrem, especially not known by the broader worldwide audience.

Let's take a dive.

Delta misses out performing at breakthrough career moment

The 2003 ARIA Awards marked a bittersweet moment for Delta Goodrem at the height of her breakthrough success.

While she was one of the night’s most celebrated artists thanks to her debut album Innocent Eyes, she was unable to perform due to her ongoing battle with Hodgkin lymphoma, which she had been diagnosed with earlier that year and forced her to take a break from her career to undergo treatment.

Delta still managed to make it to the awards show but was not able to perform during the ceremony, in what was one of the biggest nights of her career.

Delta signing autographs ahead of the ARIA Awards

Fellow Australian artist Darren Hayes, from Savage Garden, stepped in to perform her emotional ballad Lost Without You.

The performance was widely seen as a touching tribute, bringing added poignancy to the evening as the industry rallied around Delta during one of the most challenging periods of her life.

Darren's rendition helped honour both the song’s impact and Delta's presence, where she watched in the audience with the performance bringing her to tears.

Delta's achievements at the ARIA Awards were undeniable. Innocent Eyes had become a cultural phenomenon in Australia, producing multiple hit singles and dominating the charts throughout 2003.

On the night, she took home a record breaking seven ARIA Awards, including Best Female Artist, surpassing Natalie Imbruglia's previous record of six awards in 1999.

Exclusive Japanese single release

Delta Goodrem’s song Flawed marked a unique moment in her career, as it was released exclusively in Japan in October 2006.

The single formed part of her strategy to expand into international markets, particularly Japan, where she was beginning to build a following.

The song was included on the Japanese-only compilation album Innocent Eyes, which combined tracks from her first two studio albums.

Flawed was written by Delta alongside Billy Mann and Christopher Rojas, the track continued her signature pop style while leaning into emotional, introspective themes.

The song explores vulnerability and imperfection, aligning with the more personal song writing she is known for.

Flawed reached No. 1 on the Japan Download Chart.

The single gained exposure through its inclusion in the 2006 Japanese film Adiantum Blue, helping introduce her music to a wider audience beyond traditional pop channels.

Relearning to speak

In August 2020, Delta Goodrem shared a deeply personal chapter of her life in a six-minute video explaining the story behind her song Paralyzed.

For the first time publicly, she revealed that a routine surgery to remove a salivary gland had led to unexpected and serious complications. The procedure resulted in the paralysis of a nerve in her tongue, a condition that dramatically affected her ability to speak.

Delta described the experience as both physically and emotionally confronting.

Losing control of her speech meant she had to relearn how to talk, a process that required patience, persistence, and resilience.

For an artist whose career is built on her voice, the setback was particularly profound, forcing her to confront uncertainty about her future in music.

The ordeal ultimately became the inspiration behind Paralyzed, a song that captures vulnerability, frustration, and the determination to overcome adversity.

By opening up about the experience, Delta offered fans a rare glimpse into the challenges she faced behind the scenes, reframing the track as not just a piece of music, but a reflection of personal recovery and strength.

Her decision to speak publicly about the incident was widely seen as an act of honesty and courage, deepening the connection with her fans.

Fragrance line by Delta Goodrem

Delta has steadily built a successful fragrance line alongside her music career, turning it into one of Australia’s more notable celebrity perfume brands.

She has so far released eight fragrances.

Delta first entered the market in 2017 with her self-titled debut scent, which quickly proved commercially strong.

From the beginning, her fragrances have been positioned as accessible yet personal, often tied closely to her music, emotions, and life experiences.

Her collection has grown into a multi-release range, with several perfumes launched across the late 2010s and 2020s.

Early product releases like Delta (2017) and Dream (2018) leaned into soft, feminine floral profiles, while Destiny (2019) introduced a richer fruity-floral blend with warm vanilla and woody undertones.

Over time, the line has evolved in both scent complexity and storytelling, reflecting different stages of her personal and artistic journey.

In more recent years, Delta expanded the range with fragrances such as Power (2023), which emphasises confidence and self-belief, and Within (2025), a more refined, emotionally driven scent designed to feel intimate and sophisticated.

Olivia Newton-John: From idol to close friend

In an interview on BBC's The One Show, while on a Eurovision promo tour in Europe Delta described both Céline Dion and Olivia Newton-John as her “great loves,” adding:

“I wouldn’t be in music if it wasn’t for them… They are my north star and guiding light.”

Delta shared a close and deeply meaningful relationship with fellow Eurovision artist, Olivia Newton-John, built on mutual admiration, mentorship, and a shared passion for music and philanthropy.

The two first connected in the early 2000s, with Olivia becoming both a supporter and inspiration to Delta, particularly during her battle with cancer.

Over time, their bond grew into a genuine friendship, often described by Delta as one of the most important relationships in her life and career.

Musically, the pair collaborated on several occasions, most notably performing duets Right Here With You and Love Is a Gift.

Their performances highlighted a natural chemistry, and friendship with each other, blending Olivia’s iconic vocals with Delta's contemporary style.

In 2018, Delta took on the role of portraying Olivia in the biographical two-part Australian miniseries Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You.

The project saw Delta step into the shoes of her friend and idol, performing many of Olivia's most famous songs and bringing her life story to the screen. Olivia was supportive of the portrayal, further reflecting the trust and affection between the two artists.

Beyond music and television, their connection extended strongly into charitable work.

Both women were passionate advocates for cancer awareness and support, with Delta actively supporting the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre. They appeared together at fundraising events and initiatives aimed at improving patient care and advancing research, using their public platforms to make a tangible difference.

It’s clear that even with a career as celebrated and well-documented as Delta's, there are still stories, moments and details that many fans may not know.

From her early breakthroughs to the challenges she’s overcome and now her journey to the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 stage. As she prepares to represent Australia with Eclipse, her story continues to evolve, reminding us that there’s always more to discover behind even the most familiar names.