Shirley Clamp will not be participating at Melodifestivalen 2008. Contrary to rumours that have appeared in the Swedish press and across several websites and blogs, she has no plans to participate in next year's competition. esctoday.com can also reveal that Jill Johnson and Sonja Alden, both hottly tipped to return in 2008, will not be participating.
A spokesperson for Lionheart Records told esctoday.com that "Shirley Clamp has just released her latest album, Talamod, and will be promoting that along with releasing singles from that over the next few months. She will not participatein Melodifestivalen 2008, although she is keen to participate again in future years". Shirley shot to fame in Sweden and with Eurovision and Schlager fans throughout Europe after her three Melodifestivalen appearances in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Jill Johnson, a former Melodifestivalen winner, and Sonja Alden have both ruled themselves out of participation in 2008 as well. Jill has just released her latest album, Music Row, and Sonja Alden is preparing to write and record her second album. A spokesperson from Lionheart Records told esctoday.com that "both would be keen to participate in the competition again, but 2008 is not in our plans… Jill has just released her new album and is busy with that. Sonja is preparing for her second album. After the success of the first one, it's a really important time for her, but she will definitely be keen to participate again in the future. The timings are just not right for this year".
Whilst the news will disappoint many schlager fans, the record company remains committed to entering the competition and believe that all three artists will be back at the competition in the near future.
