Nellie Melba was an Australian opera singer and one of the most famous divas of all time. She was born Helen Porter Mitchell in 1861 and adopted the stage name Nellie Melba in honor of her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. She was known for her powerful voice and her ability to perform a wide range of operatic roles. She was also a successful recording artist and toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States. Her career spanned more than four decades and she was the first Australian to achieve international fame as a classical musician.