Artist

Actress and musician Delta Goodrem became one of Australia’s biggest pop stars thanks to a confident musical approach and relatable lyrics: The Sydney-born artist’s first big hits feature vulnerable protagonists who admit they miss an ex (“Lost Without You”), exude resilience after a breakup (“Not Me, Not I”), and blissfully find true love (“Out of the Blue”). Born in 1984, Goodrem dabbled in pop music as a teen before debuting on a major label in 2001 with the teen-bubblegum gem “I Don't Care.” Like fellow Australia-born pop star Kylie Minogue, she then kick-started her music career by taking a role on the popular TV drama Neighbours. The earnest piano ballad “Born to Try,” released in 2002 during her stint on the show, reached No. 1 on the Australian singles chart. The hit was the first of six straight chart-toppers that increased Goodrem’s mainstream popularity, even as she took time away from the spotlight and underwent successful treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her commercial fortunes continued unabated with the albums Mistaken Identity and Delta, which led to a broader range of career opportunities—like portraying Grizabella in an Australian production of Cats and becoming a judge on The Voice Australia—and more infectious music, such as the pulsating 2015 smash dance-pop single “Wings.”