Yohanna (full name — Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir, born 16 October 1990, Copenhagen, Denmark) is an Icelandic singer working in the genres of pop and soft rock. She gained international fame after taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song «Is It True?», where she finished second, equalling Iceland’s best result in the history of the contest.
From childhood she performed as a “child prodigy” and at the age of 9–10 was already releasing albums in her home country. Her work combines a gentle, “crystal-clear” vocal tone, melodic pop and Scandinavian melancholy.
Early years and beginnings
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Born in Copenhagen to an Icelandic family.
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At around two years old, her parents moved back to Iceland, first to Reykjavík and later to the town of Hafnarfjörður.
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At 9, Yohanna began taking professional singing lessons, having shown perfect pitch and strong musicality at a very young age.
By the early 2000s she was already perceived in Iceland as a “wunderkind” — a child with a rare voice and natural ease on stage.
Child career (2000–2003)
In 2000, nine-year-old Jóhanna signed a contract with an Icelandic label and quite literally “exploded” onto the scene as a child star:
Studio albums of the early period:
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«Jóhanna Guðrún 9» (2000)
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Debut album released for the singer’s 10th birthday.
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Included cover versions of international pop hits sung in Icelandic (for example, «Torn», «Genie in a Bottle», «I’ll Be There», etc.).
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«Ég sjálf» (2001)
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Second children’s album, continuing the line of covers and light pop songs.
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Consolidated her status as one of the best-known child voices in the country.
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Christmas album (first version, 2002–2003)
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A collection of Christmas songs and hymns.
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Received frequent airplay on Icelandic radio during the holiday season, shaping her image as a “family” singer.
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After the release of the Christmas record, Yohanna practically disappeared from the public eye for several years, focusing on her studies and personal development.
Return to the stage: the road to Eurovision (2008–2009)
By the late 2000s, Yohanna returned as an adult artist.
In 2008 she was announced as a participant in Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2009 — Iceland’s national selection for Eurovision.
«Is It True?» and triumph at Eurovision 2009
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Song: «Is It True?»
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Composer: Óskar Páll Sveinsson.
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In the national selection, Yohanna confidently advanced through the semi-final and final, earning the right to represent Iceland in Moscow.
At the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow:
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She won her semi-final.
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In the grand final she took 2nd place, losing only to the Norwegian entry.
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She scored more than 200 points, matching Iceland’s best-ever result at Eurovision.
«Is It True?» went on to:
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Reach No. 1 in Iceland,
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enter the top charts in the Nordic countries and several other European states,
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gain recognition as one of the most iconic Icelandic pop tracks of the 2000s.
The album «Butterflies and Elvis» (2009)
After her Eurovision success, Yohanna signed with a major Scandinavian label and released her first “adult” studio album:
Butterflies and Elvis (2009)
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Genre: pop, acoustic pop, soft rock.
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Overall feel: melodic, at times intimate pop with a strong focus on vocals.
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Includes:
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«Is It True?» (in the extended edition),
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ballads and mid-tempo tracks in the vein of contemporary Scandinavian pop.
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The album was released in several European countries and entered the charts in Scandinavia.
Attempts to return to Eurovision and Icelandic hits (2011–2013)
Söngvakeppni 2011 — «Nótt» / «Slow Down»
In 2011, Yohanna once again took part in the Icelandic national selection with the song «Nótt» (English version — «Slow Down»):
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In the national final she was one of the favourites, but ultimately did not win.
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Nevertheless, the English version «Slow Down» was released as a single and received a positive response in Europe.
Söngvakeppnin 2013 — «Þú»
In 2013, Yohanna returned to the selection again with the song «Þú», but this time did not reach the final. In parallel she continued to release singles and take part in various projects.
«Mamma þarf að djamma» — a people’s hit
That same year, 2013, Yohanna recorded the song «Mamma þarf að djamma» in collaboration with Icelandic group Baggalútur:
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The track became a real hit in Iceland.
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It climbed to the top of the national chart.
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It reinforced her status as one of the country’s leading pop singers, even outside the Eurovision context.
Life between Iceland and Europe, new releases (2010s – 2020s)
In the early 2010s, Yohanna lived for some time in Norway (the town of Kongsvinger) to be closer to mainland Europe and work on music and performances in different countries. She later returned to Iceland.
She:
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performs at festivals and themed concerts,
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takes part in Christmas and TV shows,
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periodically releases singles and collaborations.
Yohanna also began teaching singing to children at the same school where she once started herself, “closing the circle” of her musical story.
Christmas and nostalgic projects (2020s)
In the 2020s, the singer has focused more on cosy, “home-style” releases:
Jól með Jóhönnu (new version, 2020)
An updated Christmas album in which she returns to festive themes, reimagining Christmas songs and creating the atmosphere of a Scandinavian Christmas.
Óskalögin mín (2023)
An album consisting of favourite songs — covers and reworked pieces that reflect Yohanna’s personal musical tastes and her mature approach to pop music.
Alongside these, standalone singles are released, including duets with Icelandic artists and new Christmas tracks.
Musical style and image
Yohanna is known for:
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a pure, “crystal-clear” soprano,
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her ability to hold long notes and convey emotion with subtlety,
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Scandinavian melancholy in her ballads,
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careful, “uncluttered” arrangements.
Her strongest side lies in lyrical songs and atmospheric ballads where the voice takes centre stage. At the same time, her catalogue also includes lighter, more popular and humorous tracks, especially in Icelandic collaborative projects.
Discography
Studio albums
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Jóhanna Guðrún 9 (2000)
Children’s pop album with Icelandic versions of international hits. -
Ég sjálf (2001)
A continuation of the children’s pop line, with covers and several original songs. -
Jól með Jóhönnu (first version, 2002 / updated release 2020)
Christmas album featuring classic and modern holiday songs. -
Butterflies and Elvis (2009)
First “adult” album: pop, soft rock, acoustic. International release following Eurovision 2009. -
Jól með Jóhönnu (2020 edition)
Updated Christmas release, available on digital platforms and on physical media. -
Óskalögin mín (2023)
An album of favourite songs: covers and personal interpretations of well-known compositions.
(In the 2020s, joint projects and compilations with other Icelandic musicians have also been announced.)
Selected singles
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«Is It True?» (2009) — main international hit, Eurovision 2009, grand final, 2nd place.
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«I Miss You» (2009) — single from Butterflies and Elvis, successful in Iceland.
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«Nótt» / «Slow Down» (2011) — entry for the national Eurovision selection; the English version was released in Europe.
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«Þú» (2013) — entry for Söngvakeppnin.
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«Mamma þarf að djamma» (feat. Baggalútur, 2013) — major hit in Iceland.
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A series of Christmas singles and duets released between 2020 and 2023.
Significance and place in music
Yohanna is an example of an artist who:
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began her career as a child prodigy,
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experienced major international success at Eurovision,
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remained in demand at home and continued to develop as a singer and songwriter,
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became part of modern Icelandic pop culture while still sounding and appearing distinctly “Icelandic”.
Today, Yohanna remains one of the most luminous and sincere voices on the contemporary Icelandic scene. She has travelled the path from gifted child to mature artist while managing to preserve what matters most — the purity of her voice, emotional depth and strong musicality. Her songs continue to live on in radio rotation, at holiday concerts and on national competition stages, while «Is It True?» remains one of Eurovision’s most beloved ballads. Yohanna does not chase scandals or aggressive self-promotion — her artistic journey is calm, confident and built on a genuine love of music. This is exactly why she remains an important figure in Icelandic culture and an artist whose work touches listeners’ hearts far beyond her home country.
