Kelly Rowland is coming for Delta Goodrem’s critics: ‘if it’s Tall Poppy Syndrome, get over it!’
THE Voice is back — and ‘Kelta’ — the fan name for Kelly Rowland and Delta Goodrem — are back with avengeance and a message for their critics.
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AS most romances do, the budding relationship between Delta Goodrem and Kelly Rowland began over dinner and ice cream.
“She took me on a date,” Rowland swoons to TV guide, “she knew the way to my heart.”
A giggling Goodrem confirms the double act — known to fans affectionately as Kelta — has blossomed since the American R & B queen usurped Jessie J as a coach on the Channel 9 and ITV Studios production of The Voice.
“After dinner, we lined up at Gelato Messina in Surry Hills [Sydney], then we went for a walk and a chat,” Goodrem recalls.
“We were arm-linked,” Rowland enthuses, “that’s a habit for me. I’m definitely an arm linker.”
Their bond — both on and off screen — delivered some of the sweetest moments of last season, and proved a popular antidote to the nasty tone set in previous years when the show appeared to play up a predictable ‘war of the roses’ between Goodrem and the British bad girl.
Already an easy target for gossips, Goodrem admits she approached the new girl Rowland with respect, but no expectation theirs would grow into such a supportive union.
One set to flourish when the talent show returns to air this week — including a showstopping performance by the duo of an under-wraps anthem for women.
“I felt like I’d been really craving another woman next to me who I could enjoy this experience with,” the 33-year-old Aussie reveals, “like minds, not only in the way they see this whole life as an artist, but also the way they treat people. I think I was craving that … and I’d resigned myself to just go do the work and be me.”
For Rowland’s part, her career has been built on the power of female friendship and talent — first climbing the charts in 1997 as part of multi-Grammy-winning, all-girl group, Destiny’s Child (alongside Beyoncé Knowles and Michelle Williams).
Those ties still bind, the 37-year-old married mother of one says, with the trio pursuing solo projects, while still making time to do “life all together.”
“We’ve done it all, from dating to marriage and children. Now I’ve got this budding relationship with Delta and it’s the best. My son [Titan] calls her Aunty Delta. She even helped me pick out my house,” Rowland reveals.
“To be so far away from home, but still have these moments where you think ‘thank God I’ve got a female connection here.’ For me, I need that.”
Competing alongside new coach Joe Jonas and returning favourite, Boy George, there remains a friendly rivalry between all the celebrity panel — with Goodrem holding the crown after guiding her charge, Judah Kelly to victory last year.
Rowland admits “everybody wants to win” even though last year “George was like ‘winning means something different to so many people.’”
With a raised eyebrow and some signature swag, she adds: “I was like ‘that’s not what you meant last year when you stormed off stage and huffed [his grand finalist] Hoseah should have won.’”
That attitude is something Goodrem says she’s learning from Rowland, who argues the Aussie star has her own way of doing things.
“She’s a Scorpio, so she definitely knows how to sting and put someone in their place. When you get a ‘get up and walk away’ moment from Delta, you gotta know you in some hot fish grease. This is one you don’t want to cross … when she’s done with you, she’s done with you, which I think is great. That’s a characteristic I adopted a while back. ‘You pissed me off eight years ago and I forgive you, but I don’t have to sit here and smile in your face, because you know what went down”.
Rowland’s fierceness extends to anyone who wants to go Goodrem.
“Somebody was telling me about ‘tall poppy syndrome’ and I wondered, ‘is that it?’ And if it is, well get over it,” Rowland orders.
“Somebody has to hush them [critics] up, because it’s not the time for that … it’s the time to continue to watch her be great; to support that talent and water it and put the best soil into it. Treat it with respect.”
The feelings are mutual for Goodrem, who argues Rowland could “wipe the floor with anybody who’s walked in here [on The Voice].”
“She’ so smart and strong, kind and caring. All the different colours of the rainbow that you have to have,” she says.
Reacting to the compliment, Rowland coos: “I’m a rainbow? Oh, I’ve never been a rainbow.”
“You are,” Goodrem affirms.
“All the things that make for a great woman: having the ability to have a laugh, the ability to be strong and insightful. The ability to be a mother, to be an artist and a great business woman.”
Rowland throws an arm around her co-star and vows: “girl, I’m gonna buy you diamonds later.”
* The Voice returns 7pm, Sunday on Nine.