The Scoop: Superstar set to bring world tour to Brisbane
Music lovers, it’s time to get excited with strong rumours superstar acts Beyoncé and AC/DC have Brisbane in their sights for a late 2025 world tour location. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP
Entertainment
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Brisbane music fans could be in for a huge 2025, with insiders tipping both Beyoncé and AC/DC for Queensland shows.
After skipping Australia on her Renaissance tour in 2023, speculation is growing that Beyoncé will make up for it with an extended Cowboy Carter run — including a long-awaited Brisbane stop. Experts believe she deliberately held off, banking on the album’s country sound resonating more with Aussie audiences.
That bet appears to have paid off. Australia is now the world’s third-largest country music market, and Cowboy Carter debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in April 2024.
With demand at an all-time high, an Aussie stadium tour seems inevitable.
Beyoncé’s last Australian tour in 2013 grossed $40 million, and insiders predict she’ll go even bigger this time — potentially adding more cities than Taylor Swift and Coldplay, who only played Sydney and Melbourne. With her past tours favouring Q3/Q4 dates, a late-2025 Brisbane show is looking likely.
Suncorp Stadium appears to be the top venue choice, with only a Broncos game on September 4 and Metallica’s M72 concert on November 12 currently locked in — leaving prime dates open for Queen Bey’s grand return.
Meanwhile, legendary rockers AC/DC are strongly tipped to return to Australian stadiums in late 2025 for a Power Up tour.
A report from the Herald Sun suggested stadium dates are in the works, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of their last national tour.
QSAC, which hosted the band’s last Brisbane show in 2015 to a roaring 45,000-strong crowd, currently has no major events listed for the second half of 2025.
With no Olympics disrupting the stadium’s schedule, the stage could be set for AC/DC to deliver a thunderous homecoming.
NOVA’S BUZZ MYSTERY SOLVED AS MITCH LEWIS STEPS UP
Nova 106.9 listeners have been scratching their heads over a missing voice on Ash, Luttsy & Nikki — and no, it’s not swimming champ Susie O’Neill, who left the show last year.
Instead, fans have been flooding the station’s Instagram with one burning question: “Where’s Buzz?”
Longtime anchor Chris ‘Buzz’ Bezzina has been noticeably absent from the breakfast show since its return after the Christmas break.
Although many longtime listeners feared the show’s anchor had been punted from the station, Scoop can reveal that Buzz hasn’t left the building.
Instead, he’s taken a step behind the scenes, continuing his role as Program Manager for Nova 106.9, overseeing the station’s successful broadcast output.
Stepping into the hot seat as the new Show Anchor is Mitch Lewis, formerly Nova’s sports reporter and the face of the Mitch on the Streets segment.
The son of rugby league legend Wally Lewis, Mitch has been a key part of the Nova team for years, and with the recent addition of Nikki Osborne, the timing was right for his elevation to anchor.
“This is a great progression for Mitch,” Group Programming Director at the Nova Network Brendan Taylor said.
“With Nikki joining the team, it made sense to elevate Mitch to Show Anchor, driving the show forward and supporting Ash, Luttsy, and Nikki.”
So while Buzz might not be on-air every morning, he’s still pulling the strings at Nova HQ — leaving Mitch to keep the mics hot and the laughs rolling.
CLOONEY’S FAVOURITE HOTEL’S PR BOSS VISITS BRISBANE
The PR director of the world’s top hotel touched down in Brisbane last week to spruik the glamorous property, a favourite haunt of stars including George Clooney.
Passalacqua – overlooking Italy’s Lake Como, where Clooney also has a villa – was named No. 1 in the coveted World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2023, and No. 2 last year.
Pretty impressive since it only opened in June 2022.
Delia Facchini, who also represents Passalacqua’s sister property Grand Hotel Tremezzo, entertained a small group of travel writers at Bianca restaurant on James St, declaring the pasta “perfect to”.
Facchini overnighted at
The Calile, which placed 12 and 25 in the same hotel awards for 2023 and 2024 respectively, and gave the service a thumbs up.
DOMINIQUE LOUDON DELIVERS NEWS, BABY NEXT
Dominique Loudon has become the second high-profile Queensland TV personality in a week to depart the small screen for impending motherhood.
The Channel 9 sports presenter signed off on maternity leave at the end of Monday night’s bulletin, after being presented with a big bunch of flowers by newsreader Paul Taylor.
The baby will be the first child for Gold Coast-based Loudon and long-time partner Martin Lang, a former NRL and Maroons star.
“This baby has been 6 years in the making – a journey involving IVF, gene testing, LMT (fertility treatment) lots of medical appointments & supportive doctors and nurses,” she posted on social media after departing Mt Coot-tha. “We sometimes thought it wouldn’t happen, but everything finally kicked into place! Counting down to meet our girl or boy.”
Her departure from duty at Nine follows that of Sarah Greenhalgh, who began maternity leave last week.
Bronte Gildea, a reporter and sports presenter for 9News Gold Coast, is understood to be filling in for Loudon.
BRONCOS STRIP BACK SEASON LAUNCH AS MAGUIRE SETS TONE FOR 2025
The Brisbane Broncos are opting for a no-frills 2025 season launch, abandoning last year’s glitz and glamour.
Scheduled for next Thursday at sponsor venue The Star, about 650 guests will attend a low-key cocktail event.
It’s a far cry from the lavish 2024 “Welcome to Fabulous BrisVegas” gala – hosted in a private airport hangar with a red carpet, private jet for photo ops, showgirls and an Elvis impersonator.
The shift aligns with new head coach Michael Maguire’s approach to reshaping the team’s culture following a season marred by on-field disappointment and off-field drama.
Club insiders have told Scoop Maguire is bent on dismantling the so-called “celebrity” culture surrounding the Broncos, pushing a back-to-basics, football-first mentality.
NETFLIX’S SECRET AACTAS PARTY STOLE THE SHOW
The AACTA Awards may have been the official drawcard for Australia’s biggest film and TV names flocking to the Gold Coast, but the most coveted invitation of the week belonged to Netflix’s ultra-exclusive Now Streaming reception at The Langham on Thursday night.
With only 260 hand-picked guests, the swanky soiree saw actors, directors and influencers rubbing shoulders in their best poolside glam looks. Among them were Boy Swallows Universe stars Felix Cameron and Lee Tiger Halley, Baby Girl star Sophie Wilde fresh from her press tour with Nicole Kidman, and Apple Cider Vinegar lead Alycia Debnam-Carey (below). TikTok sensation Millie Ford was also spotted in the mix.
With a spread that screamed Gold Coast luxe – think bug rolls and a make-your-own pavlova station – Netflix made sure the night wasn’t just about the industry’s biggest names, but also a taste of Aussie indulgence.
Netflix’s director of production policy for APAC, Debra Richardson, welcomed guests and raised a glass to AACTA nominees and winners, several of whom proudly flaunted their golden statuettes around the party.
QLD TV REPORTER RUMOURED FOR DWTS
Speculation is heating up over who will lace up their dancing shoes for Dancing with the Stars Australia in 2025 – and all eyes are on a mysterious “blonde TV reporter” rumoured to be hitting the ballroom.
One name that’s been doing the rounds? 10 News First weather presenter Liz Cantor. But while Cantor (right) admits she wouldn’t mind the challenge, she’s shut down whispers of her involvement, telling Scoop the rumours simply aren’t true.
That leaves insiders pointing the finger at another familiar face – Sunrise reporter Katie Browne, who is now tipped as the likely contender.
Meanwhile, the official line-up for the show’s 22nd season is already shaping up to be a must-watch. Confirmed contestants include comedy legend Shaun Micallef, Olympic boxer Harry Garside and reality TV veteran-turned-radio-host Brittany Hockley.
Gold Coast local and DWTS judge Mark Wilson has teased an epic season ahead, revealing to Scoop that rehearsals are already in full swing.
“The word is there are some really, really super stars – look out,” Wilson hinted.
‘Incredibly nerve-racking’: Wedding singer’s shot at Australian Idol
A popular Qld wedding singer who recently tied the knot himself has landed a dream audition on the star-making reality show.
Trip of lifetime ends in tragedy for beloved TV star Kay McGrath
Former veteran newsreader Kay McGrath has been left devastated after her fiance and “soulmate” died suddenly while the two were on a trip together in India.