Kylie Minogue’s ‘Horrendously Bad’ $3M AFL Show Mocked As ‘Karaoke’

Kylie Minogue returned home with a stadium-sized production for the 2026 AFL Grand Final, but some viewers were far from impressed. The Kylie Minogue’s ‘Horrendously Bad’ $3M AFL Show Mocked As ‘Karaoke’ first appeared on The Blast

Kylie Minogue returned home with a stadium-sized production for the 2026 AFL Grand Final, but some viewers were far from impressed. The Australian pop icon performed a 20-minute pre-game set at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, packing the spectacle with her biggest hits, celebrity guests and approximately 100 dancers.

Despite the elaborate production and Minogue’s reportedly massive payday, critics watching from home branded the performance “horrendously bad” and accused the 58-year-old singer of delivering karaoke versions of her own music.

Kylie Minogue’s AFL Performance Gets Brutal Reviews

Minogue opened the highly anticipated set with “Love At First Sight” before moving through a selection of songs from her decades-long career. However, the glamorous homecoming quickly became a target for online criticism. “So far Kylie isn’t really doing it for me,” one viewer admitted as the performance unfolded.

Another person took a swipe at how the songs sounded, writing, “Kylie doing karaoke versions of her own songs.”

The reviews only became more savage from there. “Kylie is an Aussie icon but this well this has been horrendously bad,” a third viewer commented.

One critic went even further by questioning whether Minogue was singing live. “This Kylie half time performance is bloody shocking she’s not even singing,” the person wrote.

The Pop Icon Packed Her Set With Major Hits And Surprise Guests

Minogue did not arrive at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a stripped-back show. After opening with “Love At First Sight,” she performed “In Your Eyes,” “On A Night Like This” and her 2000 hit “Spinning Around.” The singer also shared the stage with several Australian performers throughout the 20-minute production.

Composer William Barton appeared during the set, while comedy trio The Inspired Unemployed joined Minogue for “The Loco-Motion.” G Flip returned after performing an opening set to duet with Minogue on her 2023 hit “Padam Padam.” DJ Dom Dolla then added his own touch to the show’s closing number, “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.”

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Other Fans Insisted Kylie Minogue ‘Killed It’

Minogue’s performance may have divided viewers, but she still had plenty of people firmly in her corner. Some fans pushed back against the brutal criticism and celebrated the Melbourne native for delivering a high-energy show in front of the enormous Grand Final crowd.

“Gotta say Kylie is killing it at the pre-game entertainment! Absolutely brilliant!!” one supporter wrote. Another enthusiastic fan declared, “KYLIE KILLING IT AT THE #AFLGF.”

Kylie Minogue Admitted She Was ‘Nervous’ Before Taking The Stage

Ahead of the Grand Final, Minogue acknowledged that she was feeling the pressure of the high-profile performance. “I am nervous, excited right now. I am all those things,” she said during a press conference in Melbourne on Friday.

The singer hoped those nerves would disappear once she stepped in front of the crowd. “When it comes to just about to go on, maybe I will feel right at home. I don’t know,” she added.

Minogue had reportedly spent the week rehearsing at the MCG as she prepared to perform for a sell-out crowd inside the 100,000-seat venue. The scale of the occasion was enormous, even for a veteran performer who has spent decades entertaining audiences around the world.

The Singer Took Her Performance To Dangerous New Heights

Minogue’s show did not keep her safely planted on the ground. During rehearsals, the singer was lifted high above the stadium on a small podium while working through her setlist. She wore a safety harness to protect her from falling as she performed a high-energy song-and-dance routine from the elevated platform.

Minogue later changed into a distressed shirt dress featuring the words “I’m home” across the front, making the performance a clear celebration of her Australian roots.

The singer is believed to have earned approximately $3 million for the Grand Final appearance.

The Kylie Minogue’s ‘Horrendously Bad’ $3M AFL Show Mocked As ‘Karaoke’ first appeared on The Blast