25-07-2025
Karl slams Triple J over brutal snub
As the countdown to the unveiling of Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs inches closer, Today co-host Karl Stefanovic has ripped into the hosts for skipping a song he argued changed Australian music forever.
On Saturday from 10am, Triple J will unveil its Hottest 100 of Australian songs that have ruled the airwaves across the country over the past five decades. Karl Stefanovic was outraged his duet with Keli Holiday didn't make the cut for the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. Supplied Credit: Supplied He threatened to come into the Triple J studio and recreate the music video to nab the top spot. Supplied Credit: Supplied
Speaking on Today, Triple J morning host Lucy Smith and comedian Adam Spencer were running through the Australian hits that could potentially wind up in the top 10, including classics from Cold Chisel, Kylie Minogue, Gotye and Powderfinger.
However, there was one notable song missing from the list, Stefanovic told the radio hosts.
'I think Australian music changed tectonically towards the end of last year,' he said, offering up his 'tip on the No.1 song in the Hottest 100 Aussies of all time'. The video clip went viral last year. Supplied Credit: Supplied
The song in question was his bizarre collab with music duo Peking Duk, who in 2024 teamed up with Stefanovic for a cover of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' 1983 hit Islands in the Stream for his 50th birthday.
The wild video features a tanned Stefanovic alongside Peking Duk's lead singer Keli Holiday (AKA Adam Hyde) with their shirts undone, loaded up with gold chains and bopping to the beat in front of a wind machine, complete with guyliner. Stefanovic joked that his song 'tectonically' changed Australian music. Supplied Credit: Supplied Maybe he'll grab the spot in the next round. Supplied Credit: Supplied
'Shame on you Triple J,' he said. 'How was (Islands in the Stream) not on the list?'
The Triple J hosts were flummoxed as they watched the clip play on screen and Stefanovic offer up his best Fabio impression.
'Lucy, this is the real reason we brought you in,' the hosts laughed. 'It's an interrogation.' Then Smith made an extraordinary offer.
'Karl, you can take out No.1 if you will appear in the studio, oiled up like that (with your) shirt undone,' she suggested.
While Stefanovic seemed interested in taking up the offer, he instead decided to recreate the viral clip in the Today studio.
