Tones and I has teased new Western Australia shows after her proposed headline performance at the NRL grand final failed to go ahead, with the singer appearing to reference the dispute by promising to perform “all songs”.
The Australian artist, whose real name is Toni Watson, was initially linked to the pre-match entertainment at Accor Stadium on October 4. Her management said no agreement had been finalised and that a prior commitment to join Macklemore’s US tour meant she was unable to accept the offer.
That explanation followed claims that she had been dropped because she would not commit to singing Dance Monkey, the 2019 hit which topped charts in more than 30 countries. Tones and I rejected that account.
In an Instagram story shared on Thursday, she indicated that details of her Western Australia dates would be announced after the AFL grand final. She added that she did not want to draw attention away from Kylie Minogue’s pre-match performance, saying she was “#teamkylie”.
The NRL has decided against pursuing another major act for the grand final. Instead, the reported $1 million performance fee will be redirected to junior rugby league.
Shannon Noll, however, has publicly offered himself as a possible replacement. The former Australian Idol contestant posted “Ready and willing” alongside an AI-generated image of himself.
Noll previously performed at the 2007 NRL grand final with the Hoodoo Gurus and Vanessa Amorosi. He also appeared at the State of Origin series in 2023.
Tones and I’s complicated relationship with Dance Monkey
Tones and I has previously spoken about her reluctance to perform the song that made her a global star.
In a 2022 interview with radio host Kent “Smallzy” Small, she said the success of Dance Monkey had led collaborators to steer her towards making similar music. She described the song as “great” but said she did not “want to go there anymore”.
“I loathe that song a lot of the time. A lot of times I don’t want to sing it,” she said. “I’m not gonna write another song like it … I just want to tell people how I’m feeling.”
Tones and I was also a surprise fourth coach on The Voice this year.
