The Eurovision Song Contest is must-see entertainment, and it's produced many stars over the decades. While some Americans may have been most familiar with the contest due to Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, these ten artists have crossover levels of fame beyond the continent of origin. With the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the books, it's fascinating to look back on past winners.
Even though it is a mega-spectacle, that doesn't always mean that the winners shoot off into stardom. While there may be many Eurovision winners whose biggest claim to fame is contest victory, some also transformed into actual celebrities. A direct comparison can be drawn to American Idol - although stars such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood achieved fame, many winners of the hit show faded into obscurity.
Lys Assia
In the case of Lys Assia, the first-ever winner of Eurovision, the contest is her biggest claim to fame. After all, the first winner will be forever immortalized. However, she still managed to have a successful career, and some time in the spotlight, after the win. She became a Eurovision veteran and legend, like when Ted Williams attended Fenway Park in his later years. However, she also had great fame with songs like "O mein Papa," due to her compelling performances.
Lena
Lena was a breakthrough victor from Eurovision, winning the contest in 2010 with the hit song "Satellite." The song skyrocketed to the top of the international charts, and the German singer parlayed the win into a great success. Lena's talents allowed her to record some chart-topping music, leading her to television success (The Voice Kids), film success (Wonder Park), and a modeling/brand sponsorship career.
Netta
Netta is one of the more recent winners. Her song made her an instant breakout star during that 2018 contest, and has since dropped several hot hits. Thanks to "Toy," Netta brought the Eurovision title home to Israel. Her song made her an instant breakout star during that 2018 contest, and she has since dropped several great tunes. Netta is now starting to pay it forward, as she'll help curate Israel's next Eurovision competitor by judging her country's version of The X Factor. She also appeared in a cameo in the Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
Johnny Logan
Throwing it back a bit further, Johnny Logan first won Eurovision in 1980, on the heels of "What's Another Year" by Shay Healy and the country of Ireland. He also won the contest in 1987, with a song he wrote himself, "Hold Me Now." He's the only Eurovision contestant to win the whole show twice, and his victories made him quite famous. However, Logan parlayed his unique place in Eurovision history into a novelty role across celebrity engagements. He's a definite star, but with music, that's as niche as the Netflix movie that would later be inspired by it.
Nicole
Another winner of Eurovision during the 1980s was Nicole. She brought the title back to Germany in 1982, courtesy of "Ein bißchen Frieden," a song that stormed across multiple countries' charts. Nicole was just seventeen when she won the contest. It was her earliest honor. She would place second at 1983's Tokyo World Popular Song Festival, before winning more niche German awards in the 1990s.
Loreen
Another more recent winner of Eurovision is Loreen, who took the title back to Sweden during the 2012 contest in Azerbaijan. "Euphoria" was a hit, and has popped up in subsequent Eurovision contests. Sweden has always fared well during the contest, and Loreen is among their most famous contestants. Like Netta, she also popped up in a cameo for Eurovision on Netflix.
France Gall
Going back even further, another seventeen-year-old Eurovision winner, France Gall, took the victory to Luxembourg in 1965. Her song, "Poupée de cire, poupée de son," led to a great deal of musical experimentation, and some massive tours. Sadly, France Gall passed away in 2018. However, her illustrious career spanned film, humanitarianism, and over twenty studio albums.
Conchita Wurst
Not every former contestant who appeared in Eurovision was a winner, but it's abundantly clear that the most famous singer to turn up during the Song-Along was Conchita Wurst. His spotlight was also quite bright during the 2014 Eurovision, when he won the contest for Austria while singing "Rise Like a Phoenix." The song and performance sparked some controversy, but it was unfounded. Wurst is an undeniably singular talent, whose fame changed the world.
Céline Dion
Celine Dion is among the most famous musicians ever, let alone from the Eurovision Song Contest. She won back in 1988, for Switzerland, with her performance of "Ne partez pas sans moi." Since then, Dion's records have eclipsed a fifth of a billion, and her hits have entered the cultural lexicon forever. "My Heart Will Go On," The Power of Love," "Think Twice," and countless other songs have rocked the music world. She's a true legend from the Eurovision annals.
ABBA
It's possible that ABBA made Eurovision, just as much as Eurovision made ABBA. The pop-rock-disco group from Sweden won the contest with "Waterloo" back in 1974. Not only is "Waterloo" clearly one of the best tunes from the Eurovision Hall of Fame, but it also helped to set the tone for what the contest could be. Since ABBA had spawned so many fun pop hits ("When I Kissed the Teacher," "Dancing Queen," "Lay All Your Love on Me") that they received an acclaimed musical, Mamma Mia! (and two subsequent film adaptations), it's safe to say that ABBA is the golden crown "child" of the Eurovision Song Contest.