Another big name has been leaked to perform at the AFL Grand Final, after it was confirmed that Katy Perry will take to the stage.
Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal that Tina Arena will be showcasing her singing talents at Saturday’s sporting event at the MCG.
The 56-year-old Australian megastar has been booked as a special guest and is said to have been quietly putting together her setlist over the past week.
Organisers hope she will create another memorable TV moment after Delta Goodrum performed alongside Robbie Williams in an iconic show at last year’s final.
It is not yet known whether Tina, who sings in English, Italian, French and Spanish, will take to the stage for pre-match, half-time or post-match entertainment.
Tina, known for her hit Burn and her cover of Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, has signed a contract after plans for Kylie Minogue to perform reportedly fell through.
It promises to be a spectacle with Cody Simpson singing the national anthem and 39-year-old fireworks star Katy expected to headline the match.
Fans are desperately hoping that Katy’s setlist will feature her biggest hits, including Dark Horse, Hot ‘n’ Cold, Roar and Teenage Dream.
Another big name has been leaked to perform at the AFL Grand Final after it was confirmed that Katy Perry (pictured) will take to the stage
Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal that Tina Arena (pictured) will be showcasing her singing talents at Saturday’s sporting event at the MCG
It was reported that the American pop star and the AFL had a row over her setlist, with Katy’s team reportedly resisting a request not to play any new songs.
Appears on SEN Breakfast On Monday, veteran AFL journalist Tom Morris claimed they had reached a compromise with Katy agreeing to just one new song.
“She plays about five songs and the AFL really wanted her to play five classic songs. She wanted to play two new ones,” he said.
‘They ended up meeting halfway and she plays one new song and four classics.’
Co-host and AFL legend Kane Cornes, who revealed he is a fan of Katy Perry, added that the AFL should have a say in the planning of the hit stadium show.
“The AFL says, ‘We only want your hits. We only want your bangers. We only want your best stuff,'” he said.
“We want Roar, we want Teenage Dream, we want Firework. They want all the songs that we know and love. And she pushed back and said, ‘No, no, I want to play two of my new songs.’
‘You know, when you go to a concert and they’re maybe old and you just want their good stuff. You just want their greatest hits.
“That’s what the AFL asked Katy Perry. And she’s gone: ‘Obviously, I want to promote some of my new music.'”
This comes after it was claimed Katy and the AFL had a row over her setlist, with her team said to have protested a request that she not play any new songs.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the AFL for comment.
Katy released her latest album 143 last week, featuring the controversial lead single Woman’s World and its follow-up Lifetimes.
Woman’s World, heralded as a feminist, empowering anthem, was dismissed as unoriginal, hypocritical and predictable.
Katy also received criticism for the music video and her decision to collaborate with music producer Dr. Luke, 50, following his much-publicized legal battle with Tick Tock singer Kesha, 37.
The news that Katy would be travelling to Australia for the September match was met with disapproval from fans, with many questioning why the AFL felt the need to import talent from overseas.