In 1999 Padar won Kaks takti ette a televised competition for young Estonian singers.
In 2000, Padar was one of the backing vocalists for Ines – who at the time was also his girlfriend – at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000.
In 2001, he, along with the boyband 2XL and Aruba-born Dave Benton claimed the spotlight by winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 with the song "Everybody".
In 2003 Padar started a rock band called Tanel Padar & The Sun, which is one of the most popular bands in Estonia.
In 2006, Tanel Padar & The Sun had the following positions in the Estonian 2006 chart (top 40): #1, #4, #12, #23, #29, #31. One of their songs also claimed the R2 Hit of the Year prize. The song "Hopelessness You" made it to the MTV World Chart Express.[citation needed]
In 2017, 25.08. Tanel Padar & The Sun gives farewell concert in Kihnu island.
In 2017, Padar starts as a solo artist.