Delta Goodrem shocks fans, supports ‘iconic’ band on US tour

Delta Goodrem is having another crack at winning an American audience after scoring the coveted opening slot for a mammoth tour with one of the world’s most iconic bands.

Delta Goodrem is having another crack at winning an American audience after scoring the coveted opening slot on the mammoth Backstreet Boys tour.

Delta Goodrem performs at The Hollywood Bowl. Picture: Instagram

Goodrem shocked her Australian fans and local team when she revealed last week she was joining the global pop group on the two-month US leg of their DNA World Tour.

The concerts kicked off in California this week, with Goodrem realising a long-held dream of performing at the legendary Hollywood Bowl.

Delta Goodrem supporting the Backstreet Boys. Picture: Instagram

Goodrem paid tribute to her idol Olivia Newton-John at that performance, her stunning black leather halter top and pants look channelling Sandy’s transformation in Grease.

“Backstreet Boys are an iconic band and I have been a fan of theirs since the beginning. To now be on their DNA Tour in the US is a dream come true and to play at the legendary Hollywood Bowl was truly magical,” she told News Corp Australia.

Delta Goodrem supporting the Backstreet Boys at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Picture: Supplied

The 37-year-old Australian superstar spent several years based in the US and had harboured ambitions to break the tough lucrative American market.

She made some headway 15 years ago with her self-titled Delta record making the Billboard 200 album chart, reaching No. 116.

A re-recorded version of her smash hit single Lost Without You peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 2010 and I’m Not Ready, a duet with pop balladeer Michael Bolton rose to No. 29 on that chart in 2007.

Delta Goodrem opening the set for the Backstreet Boys in Los Angeles. Picture: supplied

Goodrem and her American team are taking a hype-free approach to this concert-led revival of her pop career in the US, winning one fan at a time with her performances opening for Backstreet Boys.

Matchfit after her Bridge Over Troubled Dreams arena tour in Australia, Goodrem opened her American campaign with her first-ever US festival slot at BottleRock in the Napa Valley in late May before joining the Backstreet Boys on the road.

Delta Goodrem targets the US, performing at the Hollywood Bowl. Picture: Supplied

The setlist for her opening slot on the bill is a crash course of up tempo hits from her extensive catalogue including Lost Without You, Sitting On Top Of The World, Wings and recent singles The Power, Solid Gold and Billionaire.

But she has cleverly added snippets of covers including the current nostalgia hit Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush, which she performed with The Voice contestant Stellar Perry in 2020

Her impressive vocals and piano skills are winning over concertgoers who are professing their new fandom on social media.

Delta Goodrem will open for the Backstreet Boys during the US leg of their US tour. Picture: Getty Images

“I came in not knowing who Delta Goodrem was but I’m glad I left a new fan of this Australian gem,” posted Backstreet Boys Fritzi after the opening show in Chula Vista.

“Went into this concert a fan, came out a fan for life. Do yourself a favour and (see) her on tour. You won’t regret it,” wrote Jackson Pace.

It will take a couple of weeks for her growing popularity with American audiences to translate to a spike on streaming.