At age 7 appeared in an American commercial for Galoob toys. Recorded a demo CD at 13 and released her first single at age 16.
Manager is Glenn Wheatley, most famous for managing John Farnham throughout his career.
She had a top ten UK hit with 'Born to try.'
Her single "Born to Try" entered the ARIA charts at #3 on November 18, 2002, and peaked at #1 on December 2, 2002.
Her single "Lost Without You" entered the ARIA charts at #1 on March 11, 2003.
Announced that she has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a treatable form of cancer. Her career will be put on hold while she receives treatment (July 11th, 2003).
Her single "Innocent Eyes" entered the ARIA charts at #2 on June 16, 2003, and peaked at #1 on June 30, 2003.
Family consists of parents Denis and Lea Goodrem, and younger brother Trent.
Her debut single, "I Don't Care", peaked at No. 64 on the ARIA charts in December 2001.
Has written songs with Gary Barlow, ex-singer with Take That.
Her single "Not Me, Not I" enters the ARIA charts at #2 on September 22, 2003, and peaks at #1 on September 29, 2003.
Her single "Predictable/Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" entered the ARIA charts at #2 on December 9, 2003, and peaked at #1 on December 22, 2003.
All five singles from her album "Innocent Eyes" (Born to Try, Lost Without You, Innocent Eyes, Not Me Not I and Predictable) achieved number 1 on the Australian charts. A seemingly unbeatable record.
Her album 'Innocent Eyes' which was released in Australia in March 2003, has never left the Top 3 positions in the ARIA Albums Chart since, and has spent 29 weeks at #1, which no other Australian artist has done (breaking the record of John Farnham's album 'Whispering Jack' which was released in 1982 and spent only 25 weeks at #1) also making it the highest charting local album in Australia. It's certified 14X Platinum by ARIA and is also the highest selling album in Australia (ARIA End Of Year Albums Chart - 2003).
Her DVD 'Delta' which is certified 11X Platinum by ARIA is the highest selling DVD ever in Australia (ARIA DVD Chart - 2003).
In the Official UK Singles Chart, in March 2003 her single 'Born To Try' debuted and peaked at #3, in June 2003 her single 'Lost Without You' debuted and peaked at #4, in September 2003 her single 'Innocent Eyes' debuted and peaked at #9 and in December 2003 her single 'Not Me, Not I' debuted and peaked at #18. Her debut album 'Innocent Eyes' also debuted and peaked at #2 in the Official UK Albums Chart in 2003.
Only artist to have as many as ten ARIA Award Nominations, and to win as many as nine ARIA Awards (including two viewer voted awards - 2003).
She is the only artist ever to have as many as five (consecutive) singles peak at #1 from an (debut) album (which also debuted #1 in the ARIA Albums Chart) in the ARIA Singles Chart in Australia (2003).
She has a longtime love of sport - especially skiing and netball. If she wasn't going to be a singer, she would have aimed to become a World Class Olympian.
Named for the Joe Crocker song 'Delta Lady'.
Had to cut off her trademark long hair to undergo chemotherapy for Hodgkins Disease (her treatment has now ended, and she is currently growing out her hair)
Delta Goodrem Detailed Biography
Delta Lea Goodrem (born in Sydney on November 9, 1984) is an Australian musician, singer, and actress. She was launched into popularity starring as Nina Tucker on the popular television soap opera Neighbours. She has released two number one albums, Innocent Eyes and Mistaken Identity, enjoying the second most weeks of an Australian album in the number one position in Australia, and has had seven number one singles in Australia.
Born in Sydney on November 9, 1984, Goodrem had an interest in music from a very young age, despite coming from a sports-based family. She attended Hills Grammar in the Sydney suburb of Dural, where she took up piano as a hobby and focused on her music. She strived to be a performer, delivering mini-concerts in her street for neighbours, friends and relatives to watch her sing and dance.
Goodrem appeared in numerous television commercials and shows in Australia. At the age of seven, Goodrem appeared in an American commercial for Galoob Toys with her friend Bec Cartwright. She also was signed up to be the Nesquik girl. Goodrem has also made cameos in Australian television episodes of Hey Dad...!, A Country Practice and Police Rescue.
At the age of 12, Goodrem recorded a demo CD with five songs she had written. She included her version of the Australian national anthem and sent the CD to managers around Australia. It landed in the hands of the legendary Australian manager, Glenn Wheatley, the man who guided the Little River Band and John Farnham to mega success. In 2001, when Goodrem was 15, she signed to Sony Records Australia, and recorded an album of tracks, some self-penned, some written for her, and some bought in by the label. Sony launched her career with an unsuccessful 'bubblegum' pop single in November 2001, called "I Don't Care", which peaked at #64 on the ARIA Music Charts. The track was a cover of a single originally recorded by Angela Via, which was never released outside of America. The music video for "I Don't Care" is included on her first DVD, entitled "Delta" in Australia, and "Innocent Eyes" internationally.
In 2002, whilst starring in Neighbours, Goodrem released her official first single, entitled "Born To Try". A drastic change from her debut single, the adult contemporary Piano pop track debuted at #3, and climbed to the number one spot. This was fuelled by the song's inclusion in the show, in which her character, Nina Tucker, was also trying to launch a music career.
Goodrem soon became a household name, and Australia's newest sweetheart, with a girl-next-door image that rivalled that of Britney Spears in her early career.
After winning a Silver Logie for "Most Popular New Female Talent" for her role of Nina Tucker in Neighbours, Goodrem released her second single, "Lost Without You". It debuted at #1, staying there for two weeks. She also released her debut single outside of Australia at this time, releasing "Born To Try" in the UK, where it debuted at #3.
Her debut album Innocent Eyes was released on March 3, 2003, producing a record five #1 singles in Australia. She has writing credits on nearly every song on the album, including tracks written solely by her, making her the only international act or Australian female performer in history to be credited as performer and writer on four ARIA #1 hits.
The third single from the album was the title track; "Innocent Eyes". It debuted at #2, and peaked at #1 after two weeks at #2. In the UK, "Lost Without You," and the album, "Innocent Eyes" were being released, with the single debuting at #4, and the album debuting at #2, where it went onto sell over 750,000 copies.
In June 2003, Goodrem appeared on Channel V, an Australian lifestyle/music cable TV channel, performing a mini-concert of seven songs from her album (which had already been certified 6x Platinum at the time). The concert was well received, and was included on her DVD, "Delta"/"Innocent Eyes".
On July 8, 2003, Goodrem announced that she had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a form of cancer, shocking fans in Australia and the UK. In the weeks and months after the announcement, sales of her album rose by 40%, remaining at #1 six months after its release. Goodrem's management team were criticised for using her illness to attract favourable media coverage. Goodrem later revealed: "I was sitting there trying to get my head around the fact I could die and I was being told that I could somehow use this to my advantage."
There were even rumours that the cancer was a deliberate hoax to gain publicity. Although completely unfounded, these had likely stemmed from the fact that she had continued to make public appearances, and very much remained in the public eye, for several months after the diagnosis. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that Goodrem had already achieved major chart success prior to her illness with four successive #1 releases to her name.
Early on in her treatment, Goodrem recorded a few new songs, and a video clip for her fourth single, "Not Me, Not I". When asked why Goodrem worked so hard to promote the album in spite of her illness, she said, '"Not Me, Not I" is so special to me that I had to film a clip for it, just as I did for the other singles from the album.'
When "Not Me, Not I" reached #1 on the Australian charts, she became the only female artist to have four #1 singles from her debut album, besting the previous effort of three #1's from Kylie Minogue's Kylie album. "Innocent Eyes" was also released in the UK, where it debuted at #2.
On October 4 of that year, while Goodrem was still undergoing treatment, it was announced that she would not renew her contract with manager Glenn Wheatley. Goodrem's mother, Lea Goodrem, subsequently replaced Wheatley.
Goodrem capped off a professionally successful, though personally traumatic, year by winning a seven ARIA Music Awards on October 21, 2003, which nearly broke the previous record of ten, held by Savage Garden. She was too unwell to perform at the ARIAs, although she did attend, wearing a wig. Darren Hayes, formerly of Savage Garden, performed her second number one hit, "Lost Without You," as a moving tribute to her.
In the first week of December 2003 Innocent Eyes broke John Farnham's Australian record of 25 consecutive weeks at #1 (Whispering Jack (1986)). In total, Innocent Eyes spent 29 weeks at #1, tied with Neil Diamond's Hot August Night (1972), as the second longest charting number-one album in Australian history. Innocent Eyes has been certified over 14x platinum in Australia alone, with sales in the United Kingdom reaching nearly 1 million, having debuted at #3 in the album chart.
Goodrem released her debut DVD entitled Delta (Innocent Eyes internationally) which was a success in music DVD charts in Australia and the UK, featuring music videos, her Channel V mini-concert, behind the scenes footage and more. The DVD broke Australian records, selling in excess of half a million copies. She also released "Not Me, Not I" in the UK, where it went top 20, as a Christmas single, backed with two Christmas B-sides. "Predictable" was also released as the final single from "Innocent Eyes" in Australia, again hitting the #1 spot. A promo single of a remix of "Throw It Away", co-written by Cathy Dennis and former Take That star Gary Barlow was released to UK media early the following year, but was not released commercially.
After announcing in late December/early January that she was in remission, Goodrem began to go back into the studio and write and record new songs, for her second album. There were rumours at the time that she was dating tennis player, Mark Philippoussis. The rumours proved to be true, and the couple seemed to be smitten with each other. Goodrem had previously been romantically linked with fellow Neighbours star Blair McDonough.
In January 2004, Goodrem attended the 2004 Australian Open at length, where she prominently supported her boyfriend, Australian player, Mark Philippoussis. She continued her support during the Wimbledon tournament, and later, the Athens Olympics.
In July 2005, Goodrem took part in her first headline tour, the "Visualise" tour, first performed in Perth, and subsequently in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and other major Australian cities. The tour features a mixed set of tracks from both her #1 albums and more. The tour's opening act was an up-and-coming Canadian artist, seventeen-year-old Kyle Riabko. Brian McFadden, also performed with her on certain tour dates, duetting on "Almost Here" and "Flying Without Wings," a track he had recorded with his former band Westlife (it was also released in the USA by American Idol winner Ruben Studdard).
The tour came under criticism when tickets were put on sale for $100 Australian dollars; higher than most international acts touring in Australia at around the same time. It was thought that the price contributed to the slow sales at first, alongside the fact that people did not know what to expect from her show. By the time the concerts were due to take place, many venues were sold out, after tickets were reduced to $60, with the Adelaide show attracting almost 10,000 fans. After the tour concluded over 80,000 tickets had been bought in total, making the "Visualise" tour being one of Australia's highest selling local tours.
The "Visualise" tour DVD was released on Sunday, November 13, debuting at #1 on the ARIA sales chart and becoming the second DVD by Goodrem to reach number 1. The "Visualise" DVD features her live concert, recorded on July 24 at the Sydney Superdome, as well as a tour documentary, concert clips and a photo gallery. A clip for "The Analyst", recorded specifically for use as a backdrop to the concert performance, is also included.
In December 2004, Goodrem announced she was planning to relocate to the United States in an attempt to break into the US market. In early 2005, Goodrem appeared on the North American soap opera North Shore.
On June 28, 2005, a new USA mix of Goodrem's hit "Lost Without You" was released to digital download stores, such as iTunes, receiving early spins on Adult Contemporary radio stations across the United States. It was officially released to CHR/Pop stations on August 30. She also attended the 2005 American Music Awards, and won the award for Highest Selling Australian Artist at the World Music Awards.
Her USA album, which will be released in the winter of 2006 (delayed from October 2005 and January 2006), will be a hybrid of her first two albums, entitled Born To Try, after her first UK single. The album will feature several tracks from each of her albums, including "Almost Here," "Mistaken Identity," "Not Me, Not I" and "Out Of The Blue," many being remixed and changed for the US audience. In addition, she has filmed new videos for both "Lost Without You" and "Born To Try", which will be the second USA single. The album will be available on both standard CD and also on DualDisc format, which will feature video footage, such as a specially recorded live acoustic set, featuring "Last Night On Earth" (a track written with Billy Mann), which does not otherwise appear on the album tracklist. She has also written an exclusive track for America entitled "Never Fades Away".
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Goodrem was dissatisfied with the lack of airplay for her singles on U.S. radio stations, and opted to wait until Columbia Records publicized her more for a CD release.