Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian will be representing Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest.
The 33-year-old was announced as the Australian act on Thursday, and will be finalising his song selection in the coming days.
Sebastian said he’s “incredibly excited” to be heading to Austria to represent the country and our long-running love of the competition.
“It is the biggest music event in the world with an amazing history and tradition and I’m truly honoured to be invited to represent Australia in its first time ever in the competition,” he said.
Sebastian admitted his song selection will work to his strengths, and he will most likely choose to sing a ballad.
Sebastian has prior experience of global song contests, having finished seventh at the 2003 World Idol final.
This is the first time Australia will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest with an entry and the ability to vote.
Last year Australia was asked to provide an interval act, which saw Jessica Mauboy take to the stage and represent the country.
The performance was a catalyst in the European Broadcasting Corporation (EBU) agreeing to give Australia a spot at this year’s 60th anniversary show.
While Guy Sebastian readies for his Eurovision act, Greece and Cyprus have also chosen their representatives.
Greece will be represented by Cypriot-born Maria-Eleni Kyriakou, who many recognise from Greece’s version of The Voice.
She will be performing a pop-ballad, called One Last Breath, that she co-wrote.
Cyprus, who return to the contest this year having missed the 2014 edition in Copenhagen, will be represented by singer/songwriter Giannis Karagiannis.
He will be performing the ballad One Thing That I Should Have Done.
Greece and Cyprus will perform in the semi-finals of the song contest on May 21 and 22.
Because Australia’s entry is a one-off, it will participate in the final of the contest on May 23.