AUSTRALIA – In a video released tonight, Casey Donovan and Vanessa Amorosi have been revealed to be the first two artists competing in the Australia’s national final.

Casey Donovan, who performed as an opening act for last year’s Australia Decides, was made famous by winning Australian Idol back in 2004. After a debut number one single, Casey drifted away from the limelight but was still a household name in Australia. A return to screens with ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ in 2017 saw her win back Australian hearts and take out that title.

She has been a consistent performer on the musical stage throughout her career including playing Mama Cass in ‘Flowerchildren‘, Killer Queen in ‘We Will Rock You‘ and now currently playing ‘Mama Morton‘ in Chicago. She has also made numerous TV appearances including ‘The Real Full Monty‘ this year alongside Australia Decides 2019 alumni Ella Hooper. She is a much-loved performer in Australia and will be a popular choice among fans.

Vanessa Amorosi was Australia sweetheart in the very late 90s into the early 2000s. She releases her debut single ‘Have a Look‘ at aged 18, but it as her second single ‘Absolutely Everybody’ which built her career. It was a Top 10 hit in Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom and was featured in the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics. She was such a star that she was chosen to sing and record the actual anthem for the Olympics – ‘Heroes Live Forever‘, which she performed in the Opening Ceremony.

She went on to further success with her single ‘Shine‘ in 2000 as well as other top 10 hits in the decade including ‘Perfect‘, ‘This is Who I Am‘ and ‘Mr Mysterious‘. Following the release of her album in 2009 Amorosi relocated to the United States where she lives with her husband and child. She released new music this year including ‘Heavy Lies the Head‘ which finished 6th in the Aussievision Song Contest.

Australia Decides will take place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on the following dates. The Saturday evening show will be broadcast live on SBS with the winner of the contest represent Australia at Eurovision in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in May.

  • Friday 7 February evening – Jury show
  • Saturday 8 February – Matinee (family show)
  • Saturday 8 February evening – Live showTickets are available at Ticketek