Ricki-Lee Coulter is living her dream as she gets set to perform the national anthem at NRL Grand Final

RICKI-LEE Coulter is set to make a triumphant return to the stage at the NRL Grand Final next weekend — but she won’t be singing her own material when she does.

Ricki-Lee Coulter will sing the national Anthem at the NRL Grand Final on October 1. Picture: Richard Dobson

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RICKI-LEE Coulter is set to make a triumphant return to the stage at the NRL Grand Final next Sunday but she won’t be singing her own material when she does.

Coulter, who spent two years working on new music in Los Angeles before returning home in April, will perform the Australian national anthem in front of a packed ANZ Stadium on October 1.

“It’s been a long time,” Coulter told Confidential of her break from the stage, “my last tour was in 2014.

“To be in front of 80,000 people letting it rip, singing my heart out, I think it’ll be a very emotional moment for me”.

She is excited to get out to a live crowd after being stuck in a dark studio for years writing music. Picture: Richard Dobson

The 31-year-old who rose to fame on Australian Idol in 2003 said she had missed the thrill of live performance.

“I’ve been locked up in a dark studio for a couple of years writing so it is nice to be out and about performing and feeling that electricity again performing live on stage.

“There really is no greater feeling than the atmosphere and electricity in the air when you perform live. I really have missed that so I’m really looking forward to this.”

She will be joined on stage by rapper Macklemore. Picture: Glenn Hunt/Getty Images

As a diehard NRL fan and Broncos supporter since childhood, Coulter said the gig was always on her bucket list.

“I remember as a kid watching the grand finals and seeing people singing the anthem and dreaming to be there one day, so for it to actually be coming true is so exciting.”

Coulter will be joined on stage by Grammy award-winning US artist Macklemore who will headline the Grand Final pre-game show.

“He’s amazing, he’s one of my favourite artists at the moment and an awesome song writer, so he’ll set the tone and set the stadium on fire, it’s going to be awesome.”