Patricia Kaas is set to represent France in the upcoming 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. She is one of the most successful French singers ever and returns to the international spotlight after taking an extended break from her solo career in 2005. The news is yet to be confirmed by France Televisions.

Patricia Kaas was born in Forbach (Lorraine) in 1966 and she entered the music business at the young age of 13. In 1985, actor Gérard Dépardieu discovered her and produced with her a first single. It would take another three years until the release of her first album, which would peak at number two of the French charts and mark the beginning of a series of commercially successful releases.

So far, all her seven studio albums as well as a live album reached the top ten of the album charts. Her new CD will be released in February. It is called Kabaret and it is an hommage to the music of the 1930s. The recordings are made in French, English and German. She also performed as the special guest in the interval act of the German Eurovision Song Contest national final in 2005, Germany 12 Points!.

Interestingly, she has collaborated with Diane Warren, who earlier tonight was confirmed as the lyricist for the 2009 United Kingdom Eurovision Song Contest entry by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. Ms. Warren wrote Quand j'ai peur de tout for her, which was recorded in English as Too lost in you by The Sugababes.

France was represented in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest by Sébastien Tellier, who finished 18th with his entry Divine, the first French entry ever being mainly performed in English. The last top ten position for France came in 2002, when Sandrine François finished 5th.

At this stage, there is no information about the song or the team behind it. In an interview with esctoday.com last month, Bruno Berberes, Head of the French Delegation confirmed that the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest entry will be performed in French, but no agreement is confirmed as to the singer or song as yet. The official announcement as to the next French Eurovision Song Contest representative is likely to be made officially in early February.

• Read the Bruno Berberes interview here

Watch two of Patricia Kaas' videos below:

Quand j'ai peur de tout (1997, music composed by Diane Warren)

If you go away (2002, music by Jacques Brel)