With a Super Bowl Halftime Show under her belt, Katy Perry is no stranger to entertaining football fans as she gears up for this weekend’s AFL grand final performance.

“That’s what’s going to be the most exciting [thing] to hear, 100,000 people singing all the songs at the top of their lungs,” Perry told ABC News Breakfast.

“I know that the performances for the show have just kind of started happening in the past few years, so I’m really excited to take it up a notch,” she added.

Butterflies, helicopters and a futuristic-looking Tesla will make an appearance at the big performance, Perry hinted.

Reportedly, the American singer will perform some of her classic hits along with a song from her controversial new album, 143.

The album that came out a week ago has received significant backlash, with Perry’s single Woman’s World becoming her worst-performing single release from an album in her 16-year career.

From the lyrics to the music video, the song has not translated well for fans and critics alike.

And it’s not just the satirical messaging that is not sitting well with people, it’s also the song and the comeback album’s link to Dr. Luke. 

Real name Lukasz Gottwald, Dr. Luke was accused in 2014 by pop star Kesha, in a dismissed claim, of sexual assault and emotional abuse, allegations he has always denied.

Since the release, Perry has claimed the album, in particular the Woman’s World single was satire. 

She credited the album’s creation to her growth as a mother.

“So much has bloomed, and I feel so much wholeness,” she said on becoming a mother.

“I’ve been operating and riding from that place of just feeling, feeling that unconditional love for the first time.”

Perry said the album comes from that joy of unconditional love and her “connection with femininity”.

143, the album name in texting lingo, stands for “I love you”, an ode from the singer to her realisation of total and irrevocable love.

Perry and the penguin

With the footy frenzy at its peak, as Sydney Swans take on Brisbane Lions on Saturday, the pop star finds herself at the very centre of it.

While Perry is thrilled to be the entertainment at the G – it is not footy but rather a fluffy creature from Australia occupying her thoughts.

“I don’t know if I’m actually allowed to hug it, but it really looks huggable,” said Perry.

Pesto is a chocolate-brown, obscenely fluffy penguin at the Melbourne Sea Life Aquarium.

The big baby penguin went viral earlier this month and not surprisingly the American pop star was not immune to his chubby charm.

“If I could just stand two feet away from it and feed it a fish, I would love that,” laughed Perry.

So perhaps along with red and purple scarves, some Pesto pictured flags will be present in the stands this Saturday at the MCG.

While here in Melbourne, Perry has announced a tour in Australia in 2025.

It’s called The Lifetimes Tour, with Perry revealing the name as a tribute to her fans who have grown alongside her songs.

“I see photos that they [Fans] show me online of them being 12-13, and now they’re like, 26 or 28… and they’ve been enjoying my music the whole time, and that feels like an incredible lifetime,” shared Perry.

“So, it’ll be a really great celebration. I think Australia will know how to do it.”

Perry’s Aussie tour kicks off on June 9 in Sydney.

The tour wraps up in Perth on June 22 with the artist set to perform in Melbourne (June 12 and 13) and Brisbane (June 17).