Winning the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with 281 points propelled Emmelie de Forest into the international spotlight. The Danish musician secured victory with the song "Only Teardrops," finishing 47 points ahead of the runner-up. This achievement solidified her professional trajectory as a singer, songwriter, and composer within the European music industry and established her reputation as a recording artist.
Early Development and Musical Foundation
Born in 1993 in Randers, Denmark, de Forest is the daughter of a Danish mother, Marianna Birgitte Gudnitz, and a Swedish father, Ingvar de Forest. Her upbringing spanned both Denmark and Stockholm, Sweden. She began singing at age nine, participating in the Steve Cameron Gospel Choir alongside her mother. By age 14, she shifted toward live performance, working with Scottish folk musician Fraser Neill at various festivals and small venues. Their collaborative efforts included a self-titled album that saw limited commercial distribution. At 18, she moved to Copenhagen to formalize her training at the Complete Vocal Institute.
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In 2013, de Forest participated in the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the national selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her winning performance of "Only Teardrops"—co-written by Lise Cabble, Julia Fabrin Jakobsen, and Thomas Stengaard—advanced her to the main contest held in Malmö, Sweden. On 14 May 2013, she qualified from the first semi-final, entering the final as the favored act among British bookmakers. She claimed first prize four days later. Following this success, the Danish European Movement awarded her the Årets Europæer Award in December 2013.
Career Evolution and Songwriting
Following her Eurovision success, de Forest released her debut album, also titled "Only Teardrops," in May 2013. Her subsequent work included the 2014 single "Rainmaker," which served as the official theme for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen and attained gold certification. In 2015, she transitioned from Universal Music Group to the Swedish label Cosmos Music. Her second studio album, "History," followed in 2018. Beyond her own performance work, she branched into songwriting for other Eurovision entrants, including co-writing the 2017 British entry "Never Give Up on You," which placed 15th in the final. She continues to release material, including the 2021 single "Typical Love Song" and her 2025 project, "Into the Moon."
Fast facts
- Born: 1993, Randers, Denmark
- Primary Occupations: Composer, singer, songwriter
- Eurovision Win: 2013 (Only Teardrops)
- Debut Album: Only Teardrops (2013)
- Second Studio Album: History (2018)
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Denmark
- Record Label History: Universal Music Group, Cosmos Music
Questions readers ask
Did Emmelie de Forest write "Only Teardrops" herself?
No. The song was written by Lise Cabble, Julia Fabrin Jakobsen, and Thomas Stengaard.
Has she written music for other artists competing in Eurovision?
Yes. She co-wrote the 2017 British entry "Never Give Up on You" and the song "Never Alone" for the 2016 Danish national selection.
Achievements
- First prize of the Eurovision Song Contest — 2013
- Notable work: Only Teardrops
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: pop music, folk music and traditional folk music
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