If you’ve been following the rumours, then you know how the Eurovision fans have been fuelled with gossip about Madonna potentially performing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 during the interval performance. Discussions had apparently been going back and forth over the past few months, and finally, she has been confirmed, according to Israeli news website HAARETZ.
Madonna was announced on 8 April 2019 by HAARETZ, who also revealed that the American star will be paid $1 million to perform at the international contest, with Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams footing the bill.
This isn’t the first time an international star has performed during the interval of Eurovision, previous world-wide-known stars include Aqua in 2001, who sang a medley of their hits, and Justin Timberlake in 2016, who sang “Can’t Stop The Feeling”. Madonna is set to perform two tracks, live on the Eurovision stage, and will arrive in Israel with 160 people, four days before the Grand Final – we wonder if she’ll be tuning into the Semi-Finals.
Madonna has some strong ties to Israel which include her Israeli-American manager, Guy Oseary, her Hebrew name Esther which she adopted in 2004, and her connection to Kabbalah. She has performed in the country three times previously, in 1993, 2009, and 2012.
All acts of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 have now been announced, they are Srbuk for Armenia, Tamta for Cyprus, Jonida Maliqi for Albania, Eliot for Belgium, Miki for Spain, Serhat for San Marino, Duncan Laurence for The Netherlands, Tamara Todevska for North Macedonia, Michela Pace for Malta, Bilal Hassani for France, Lake Malawi for the Czech Republic, PÆNDA for Austria, Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman for Finland. Michael Rice for the United Kingdom, Sergey Lazarev for Russia, Mahmood for Italy, Kate Miller-Heidke for Australia, D-Moll for Montenegro, Kobi Marimi for Israel, Katerine Duska for Greece, Joci Pápai for Hungary, Jurijus for Lithuania, Leonora for Denmark, S!sters for Germany, Ester Peony for Romania, Victor Crone for Estonia, Roko for Croatia, Carousel for Latvia, Tulia for Poland, Hatari for Iceland, Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl for Slovenia, KEiiNO for Norway, Nevena Bozovic for Serbia, Conan Osíris for Portugal, Oto Nemsadze for Georgia, Anna Odobescu for Moldova, Luca Hänni for Switzerland, John Lundvik for Sweden, Zena for Belarus, Sarah McTernan for Ireland, and Chingiz for Azerbaijan.
The acts are currently promoting their Eurovision songs around Europe. They’re preparing for the show in Israel whilst the stage is being built.
The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted at the Expo Tel Aviv in Israel after Netta won last year with the song “Toy”. The two Semi-Finals will take place on 14 May and 16 May with the Grand Final taking place on 18 May. A total of 41 countries will compete in the contest.