Speaking from Hawaii where she is filming an episode for an American soapie,
an upbeat Goodrem said she would be moving to the US early next year after a
tough year, breaking up with tennis star Mark Philippoussis, splitting with manager
Glenn Wheatley and successfully battling cancer.
"I am very much looking forward to the clock ticking over to 2005 and then going,
`Yes, bring in the new year', because it has been a very messy year,"
Goodrem said.
"This is a new year and I'm really going to let that go.
"I've got a lot more energy. I can't even describe it. It's like, `Hey, I forgot what
it's like to feel like this and it's wonderful'."
She delivered a thinly veiled salvo at Philippoussis, who ended the couple's
10-month relationship in October and her former manager Wheatley, whom she
left in March.
"There was a lot of betrayal, a lot of people really surprised me," Goodrem
said. "I saw a lot of different colours in people I had never seen before so I guess
that was a big growing experience. I really had to take it on my own and grow from
that.
"And you know I learnt from that and a lot of different things that happened,
all the situations, the betrayals, the story of the management, everything."
Asked if her heart had mended since Philippoussis left her for billionaire socialite
Paris Hilton, Goodrem said "very much so".
"It was such a strange time," she said. "I feel very free now.
"I think I need to get myself centred. I feel very free, very happy and looking
forward to enjoying every day.
"My heart's gone back into my work and my family and being a 20-year-old girl."
Goodrem said "of course" she was open to meeting someone else.
"I'm always meeting different people," she said. "I'm not looking for anybody at
the moment but you are always meeting different people.
"It's about getting to know new people. I just think everything happens for a reason
and it's just been a really interesting journey these past couple of years; hopefully
it's going to be a little bit smoother."
Goodrem, whose latest album features a love song about Philippoussis, Out of the
Blue, joked the album might have been very different if written after her break-up
and management split.
"To tell you the truth I'm spewing that some things didn't happen during the album
because I could have written some really good songs about it," she said.
Goodrem has just spent two weeks in Hawaii relaxing and filming an episode of the US
soapie North Shore, which stars former Beverly Hills 90210 actress Shannen Doherty.
Goodrem sings her No. 1 single Lost Without You in the episode which will be seen by
four million viewers in the US, part of a campaign to boost her profile in the US.
She said she would be leaving Australia early next year as part of her plan to
conquer the world's toughest music market.
"I really think it's such an important thing to do," she said. "You really have to base
yourself in a country to give it a good go and to really try to go out there and meet
people; and the people connected with the music is the most important part.
"I will spend most of the year in America. Where I will be based I'm not sure yet.
I will definitely be there, except for touring.
"I think it is New York or LA."
Goodrem's mother and manager Lea is expected to accompany her to the US. Their
plans include recording a new album and appearances on high-profile talk shows hosted
by Jay Leno, David Letterman and possibly Dr Phil, where she would talk about her
battle with cancer.
"I am very much looking forward to 2005, just being me and really getting my
craft to the best I can; also doing lots of work and enjoying it at the same time; being
more relaxed about things," Goodrem said. "I'm very happy."
