About this artist
Delta Goodrem is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress known for her breakout debut album, Innocent Eyes, which spent a record-breaking 29 consecutive weeks atop the ARIA pop chart in 2003. At the time of its release, the 18-year-old Sydney native was playing the fictional role of an aspiring singer on the popular soap opera Neighbors, which coincidentally helped launch her own music career. Goodrem’s ascent to stardom became even more compelling when she received a cancer diagnosis that same year. Following a massive outpouring of support from fans and a successful battle against the disease, she went on to notch two more platinum-selling chart-toppers of thoughtful piano-led pop before the decade was through. Returning to the small screen, Goodrem enjoyed a run as a judge on the Australian edition of The Voice before hitting number one once more with 2016′s Wings of the Wild. Released five years later, Bridge Over Troubled Dreams again put Goodrem back on top.
Born in Sydney on November 9, 1984, Goodrem entered the entertainment business early, working as a child actor in commercials and learning piano at the age of seven. On the strength of some early demos, she signed an artist development deal with Sony at 15 and recorded an as-yet unreleased album’s worth of songs in the mainstream teen pop style of the day. When her 2001 debut single, “I Don’t Care,” failed to become a hit, Goodrem backed off for a couple of years and shifted to acting while reevaluating her musical direction. It was during her tenure on the soap opera Neighbors that Sony launched her next single, a more mature piano-led pop ballad called “Born to Try.” It was a near-instant success, topping the ARIA singles chart and setting up high expectations for her debut album. Goodrem didn’t disappoint. Innocent Eyes was released in March 2003 and shot to number one, remaining there for a record-breaking 29 weeks and yielding an unheard of five number one singles. While promoting the album, Goodrem was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and spent the rest of 2003 undergoing treatment while her legions of fans delivered an outpouring of emotional support. With her cancer in remission, she bounced back with 2004′s Mistaken Identity, which also reached number one and went platinum in Australia, while its American release a year later introduced her to an entirely new audience. Goodrem’s thoughtful songwriting, classy arrangements, and pure voice set her apart from many other young pop singers of her age and she capitalized on her success with her first Australian headlining tour. At the opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Goodrem performed a new single, “Together We Are One,” in front of a massive live and national television audience. A year later, the lighter, more pop-driven Delta, gave the superstar her third consecutive number one at home. “Right Here with You,” a duet with Olivia Newton-John, was released to benefit the former’s cancer hospital. Goodrem would later portray Newton-John in a 2018 biopic television series and release a cover album of her songs.
Transitioning back to television, Goodrem took a break from recording to appear as a coach for two seasons on Australia’s version of the talent contest The Voice. Released in 2012, her fourth album, Child of the Universe, peaked at number two becoming her first album not to top the national chart. Still a major success, it nonetheless went gold thanks to singles like “Dancing with a Broken Heart” and “Sitting on Top of the World.” She also released a Christmas EP in December of that year. 2015 saw Goodrem return not only to The Voice, but also to her role as Nina Tucker on a special 30th anniversary episode of Neighbors. Led by the hit single “Wings,” the singer’s fifth album, Wings of the Wild, appeared in July 2016 and restored Goodrem to the top of the pop chart. After the 2018 stand-alone pop single “Think About You,” she released I Honestly Love You, the soundtrack to her Olivia Newton-John biopic Hopelessly Devoted to You. 2020 brought another charity single, “Let It Rain” which benefited the Red Cross bushfire relief fund. She also released a full-length Christmas album, Only Santa Knows, that December. Goodrem’s deeply personal seventh album, Bridge Over Troubled Dreams arrived in May 2021 with an accompanying autobiography. ~ Timothy Monger