Macklemore is set to perform at this year’s NRL Grand Final: ‘It’s going to be amazing, I am a fan’

EXCLUSIVE: In a sign the National Rugby League is moving with the times, scoring one of the world’s top artists to perform at this year’s grand final — four-time Grammy-Award winner Macklemore.

IN a sign the National Rugby League is moving with the times, one of the world’s top artists will perform at this year’s grand final.

Four-time Grammy-Award winner Macklemore — born Ben Haggerty — will take to the stage to headline the pre-game show at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on October 1.

“Performing on a scale like this in front of that many ­people live and televised, these types of opportunities are ­always incredible,” Macklemore told Confidential on the phone from the US.

“I am sporty, not by body type, but I am a fan. I will ­absolutely be researching and I’m going to start watching games to get acquainted with the sport (rugby league).”

Four-time Grammy-award winner Macklemore will perform at the NRL Grand Final this year. Picture: Glenn Hunt/Getty Images

Macklemore’s signing represents a shift for the NRL with previous grand final performers generally being legacy acts such as Billy Idol, Ricky Martin, Slash and Cold Chisel.

Richie Sambora was slammed for his performance of Bon Jovi’s Dead Or Alive and Livin’ On A Prayer at last year’s grand final, dubbed by some as “the worst grand final gig in the sport’s ­history”.

“It is going to be amazing,” Macklemore said. “It has to be big. It has to be anthemic. It has to be glorious so we are bringing that to Australia. I love the big stage and love being able to elevate it and bring the production values up.”

He is excited to be performing at one of the biggest sporting events in Australia. Picture: Brett Costello

It is a busy few months for Macklemore with the muso, who has had global success with hits including Thrift Shop, Same Love, Can’t Hold Us, and Down Town releasing a new studio album, Gemini, later this month.

Of Australia’s support in the five years since he released Thrift Shop, he said: “We have always had an incredible fanbase. Our songs went No. 1 in Australia before they did anywhere else in the world so you guys have a good ear for music out there.”

His smash hit Glorious is from his first solo album Gemini. Picture: Supplied

Gemini is Macklemore’s first solo album following his chart-topping success with Ryan Lewis on his recent trips.

It features a number of high-profile collaborations including Kesha, Skylar Grey and Lil Yachty.