Delta's $200,000 deal

April 03, 2004

"DELTA Goodrem's official return to the spotlight began yesterday with a carefully managed interview on Sydney's No1 radio station NOVA969.

But Breakfast hosts Merrick and Rosso were unable to quiz the 19- year-old artist about her illness because of a ground-breaking deal Delta and her family have signed with The Australian Women's Weekly.

In exchange for a cancer research donation believed to be more than $200,000, Delta has agreed to speak exclusively with the women's magazine about her battle with hodgkins disease.

Merrick and Rosso yesterday also steered clear of the subject of her relationship with tennis champion Mark Philippoussis.

While she initially sounded nervous in the pre-recorded chat at the station's Pyrmont studios, Delta gradually relaxed with the radio funnymen.

She revealed that the clear braces which were first spotted when she attended the adidas International at the invitation of Philippoussis were removed yesterday.

"Due to some of the treatment, my gums had got really sore and started to do funny things, so I said 'Let's put on some braces and keep them [teeth] still. I get them off this afternoon, I'm really excited," she said.

The vivacious singer songwriter, who recently returned from a holiday with her mother Lea in the US, said she would record a Spanish version of her debut smash hit Born To Try.

This could propel her album to the top of the charts not only in Spain but throughout Latin America.

"I just started to release [the album] in different countries in Europe. It's sold a million and a half in Europe and got to No2 in England. Spain ... it's just started, Germany it's No7," she said.

"We are doing a Spanish version of Born To Try which will be exciting. I don't think I'm doing that great at the moment [at Spanish]."

Delta has continued to write new material for her next album while battling her illness but said the chemotherapy and radiation treatment made it difficult to concentrate.

She hinted the songs had taken a "darker" edge because of the "different life experiences to talk about"."
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