Anthony Albanese's touching tribute to Delta Goodrem after Eurovision heartbreak

A Heartwarming Message from Australia’s Prime Minister to Delta Goodrem

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared a heartfelt message of support for Delta Goodrem following her performance at the Eurovision 2026 Song Contest. The Sydney-born politician, aged 63, took to X on Sunday morning to express his pride in the Australian singer for securing fourth place in the highly anticipated competition.

'Well done, Delta. You did Australia proud,' he wrote alongside a photo of Delta performing at the world-famous event. This message came just hours after he had already expressed his support for Delta as she competed in the annual singing contest. 'Good luck at the Eurovision Grand Final, Delta. You’ve already made Australia proud. We'll all be cheering you on.'

Delta Goodrem's Remarkable Performance

Delta Goodrem finished in fourth place at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, with Bulgarian singer Dara claiming the crown with her song Bangaranga. The Aussie superstar was an early fan favorite and earned 287 points after delivering a jaw-dropping rendition of her power ballad Eclipse. Although she fell short of victory, she was beaten by Bulgarian singer Dara, who scored an impressive 516 points, as well as Israel's Noam Betten with 343 points and Romania's Alexandra Căpitănescu on 296 points.

During her performance in Vienna, Delta captivated the audience with blinding stage lights, swirling smoke, and a full-force wind machine moment. Her emotional performance capped off a remarkable week for the singer, whose semi-final appearance had already propelled her into uncharted territory for an Australian act in the competition.

A Strong Entry for Australia

Many Eurovision viewers had already declared that Eclipse was Australia's strongest entry since Dami Im stunned audiences with The Sound of Silence in 2016, ultimately finishing in second place. Speaking before flying to Vienna for the competition, Goodrem said she had been overwhelmed by the support from fans back home.

'I love it, I love the passion, the positivity,' she told nine.com.au. 'I'm gonna take all this incredible good energy and vibes with me and fly over to Vienna with it all.'

Australia qualified for the grand final alongside countries including Malta, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, and Albania. Other nations competing in the blockbuster final include Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Romania, while Eurovision's traditional 'Big Four' — France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom — automatically qualified for the grand final.

Despite being one of the favorites, Eurovision organizers have previously confirmed that the contest would not be hosted in Australia if the country wins, with another European nation expected to step in as host instead.

Overcoming Health Challenges

Despite her dazzling career, Delta has faced significant health battles, including her Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in 2003 at the age of 18, from which she recovered. However, she later had to re-learn how to speak after having her salivary gland removed. Her rise to Eurovision success is monumental for the star after the 2018 salivary gland removal caused a paralyzed nerve in her tongue, after which she was at risk of never speaking or singing again—before she battled to regain her talent.

A Journey of Resilience

Speaking about the battle, she previously said: 'That damage meant that I had to then learn how to speak again and how to be able to pronounce. It was a complete paralysis, and it was a lot of hard work, a lot of determination.'

Her resurgence comes off the back of her incredible survivor story, with her first battle being at the age of 18 when, in July 2003, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, an uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system.

On discovering the cancer, she said: 'I was doing sit-ups when I felt something pop in my neck. I reached down and I felt a small lump at the base of my throat. It wasn't sore, it wasn't visible, but I could feel it.'

The Struggle Through Treatment

She underwent radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which led to her losing her hair, which she confessed was the 'hardest part' due to the fact she was still a teen. Speaking about her treatment, Delta said: 'The treatment was tough. I remember one day staring out of the window, longing to be able to just go for a walk and get a coffee. I looked in the mirror. My face had a green tinge... My hair was falling out. I had lost so much weight and I thought, I don't recognise this person. You know rationally you're the same person, but you look and feel so different.'

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