Maria Haukaas Storeng, who represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, will co-host the 2009 Norwegian selection. Along with Per Sundnes she will present the five live shows of Melodi Grand Prix 2009.

Maria is very happy to do the job: "This is such a big honour that I was asked to do it – and I am looking forward to taking the challenge.", she said. Along with Per Sundnes, who already presented the show in 2008, she will host the five live shows including three semi finals starting on 24th January, the second chance round on 14th February and the grand final at the Spektrum in Oslo on 21st February.

Maria Haukaas Storeng easily won the 2008 Melodi Grand Prix final getting almost 80,000 votes more than runner-up Torstein Sødal. With the song Hold on be strong, she finished 5th in the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade giving Norway its best placing since 2003. The song was a #1 hit in Norway and also entered the charts in Sweden and Denmark.