Tones And I (Toni Watson) has withdrawn from performing at the NRL Grand Final pre-show scheduled for Sunday, October 4 at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, her management said. The singer’s team at Lemon Tree Management stated she was approached on September 5 but had “a prior commitment with Macklemore in America and explored all avenues to make it work.” However, “nothing was signed or confirmed in writing.”
“Due to the last minute nature and prior commitments by Tones, we were unable to accept the offer,” the statement read. The NRL will not pursue another artist to fill the entertainment slot.
Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V’landys said the league will redirect the roughly A$1 million entertainment budget toward sports programs for underprivileged children. “I’d prefer to see 20,000 underprivileged kids who can’t afford to play rugby league play rugby league,” he told the ABC, adding he would rather do that than spend the money on an 11-minute musical performance.
V’landys indicated the move signals a shift away from high-profile musical acts at the grand final. “Our game sells itself,” he said. “People come to watch rugby league. They don’t come to watch a pop concert.” Past performers have included Tina Turner, Billy Idol, and The Kid LAROI; Teddy Swims is scheduled for 2025.
The Sydney Morning Herald, citing unnamed sources, reported the disagreement centred on the NRL’s request that Tones And I perform her 2019 hit “Dance Monkey,” which she declined. Tones has previously stated mixed feelings about the song, telling Australian radio in 2022 that “a lot of time, I don’t want to sing it.” The track dominated global charts for months, holding Australia’s top spot for a record 24 weeks and leading the UK survey for 11 weeks.
See Macklemore live
Upcoming Macklemore events with tickets available:
- Oct 22, 2026 — Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado · Get tickets
Tickets are sold by GetUrTix. Code GTIX20 takes 20% off the ticket price at checkout — no minimum, no expiry.
Source: Billboard
