Katy Perry rubs shoulders with Aussie legends
Katy Perry won’t be the only one hitting the stage at the AFL grand final on Saturday, with several Aussie stars expected to perform as part of the festivities.
Australian singer, actor and athlete Cody Simpson, multi-ARIA Award winning artist Christine Anu, singer-songwriter Zipporah Corser-Anu, and September favourite Mike Brady AM are joining the line up at the MCG on Saturday.
Christine Anu and daughter Zipporah Corser-Anu will perform together for the First Nations ceremony alongside the Songlines Youth Choir.
Mike Brady will perform ‘Up There Cazaly’ as part of the longstanding tradition Toyota AFL retiree motorcade on grand final day.
Meanwhile, Cody Simpson will be performing the Australian National anthem.
It’ll be the second time Simpson has sung Advance Australia Fair, following his performance at the 2022 NAB AFLW Grand Final in Brisbane.
It comes as perry addressed the bombshell rumours about her performance at the 2024 AFL Grand Final, and teased a collaboration with an iconic Aussie artist.
The pop sensation is all set to perform at the clash between the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions on Saturday, however the performance has sparked speculation over which songs Perry will perform after footy journalist Tom Morris reported the AFL had requested Perry stick to her hits rather than perform tracks from her new album 143.
In particular, her hit Roar has also drawn controversy, with fears it could be too biased towards the Lions.
“The AFL are saying, ‘We only want your hits. We only want your bangers. We only want your best stuff’,” Morris said on SEN.
“We want Roar, We want Teenage Dream, we want Firework. They want all the songs we know and love. And she’s pushed back and said, ‘No, no I want to play two of my new songs.”
Speaking on The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick on Thursday, Perry confirmed she had to cut the controversial song.
“I have to cut my song “Roar” out of the set because it’s not fair … That’s what everybody says!” Perry told a disappointed Fev, a former Carlton and Brisbane player.
“You need to play it!” Fev replied.
“Okay, I’ll play it. I’ll play it!” Perry said.
The Dark Horse singer was also asked about whether she might bring out Australian singer and songwriter Tina Arena at the MCG.
“It’s the Grand Final, the biggest day. I heard you this morning on Sunrise. You said you were going to come out with an Australian female icon … and then you said something about “chains” and “locks” … and I went Tina Arena!” Fev said.
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” Perry said.
“All I know is that it’s a fellow Scorpio … and she’s great.”
Tina Arena’s birthday is November 1, 1967, planting her firmly in Scorpio territory.
However Perry declined to give anymore details.
The hints follow the 39-year-old’s major tour announcement on Wednesday, where she revealed she will be bringing her Lifetimes Tour to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, and Perth’s RAC Arena.
“I am super keen to announce The Lifetimes tour, and I’m rolling out dates first in Australia,” Perry said on Sunrise on Wednesday morning.
“It’s been a long time, but I feel like I’m totally ready for it. It’s a high energy singalong with all the songs that everybody knows and more.”
The tour will kick off in Sydney on June 9 before heading to Melbourne on June 12 and 13, Brisbane on June 17, and Perth on June 22.
