‘Absolutely Starstruck’: Teddy Swims Recalls Collaborating with His ‘Heroes,’ The Wiggles

Teddy Swims Says Performing with The Wiggles Was His “Made It” Moment

By Staff
October 23, 2025
Music, Music News

Teddy Swims’ résumé already includes stadium shows, chart milestones and industry honors — yet the moment he felt he had truly arrived came courtesy of an unexpected collaboration with childhood icons The Wiggles.

Swims is midway through a busy Australia and New Zealand run that has seen him headline major venues, appear at the NRL Grand Final and deliver a keynote at SXSW Sydney. During the trek he even shared the stage with The Wiggles — an experience he describes as surreal.

Speaking this morning on Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren, Swims chatted about life Down Under, his growing tattoo collection and what it meant to perform alongside the legendary children’s group.

The Wiggles surprised the audience at Swims’ Oct. 15 concert at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, joining him for a medley of “Rock-A-Bye Your Bear,” “Hot Potato” and “Fruit Salad.”

“That was insane,” Swims said, recounting how the opportunity came about. He recalled reaching out to the group years earlier on Instagram — a fan’s message to the performers who made up part of his childhood soundtrack — and then unexpectedly running into them backstage on The Today Show before the rugby final.

“They found me in the corridor and asked if I wanted to play ‘Fruit Salad’ with them,” he said. “I was absolutely starstruck.”

Swims said the onstage cameo involved the entire band and spanned three songs — an electrifying highlight he now counts among his career milestones. “I even said after the show that it felt like my ‘made it’ moment,” he reflected.

Swims’ commercial achievements are notable: in July his single “Lose Control” became the first song in Billboard Hot 100 history to reach 100 weeks on the chart — surpassing the previous long-run leader, Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves,” which logged 91 weeks in 2021–22.

He’s also enjoyed success in Australia. In January, his album I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart, while “Lose Control” climbed to No. 4 on the national singles chart.

Offstage, Swims admitted to filling up the real estate on his body with tattoos — and to using the road as a creative outlet for friends. “Right before my son was born I was trying to stay away from drinking, so I’d pull out the tattoo machine after shows and tattoo the drunks in the green room,” he laughed.

Swims’ I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour of Australasia continues through October 2025. On October 23, 2025 he plays the second of three sold-out nights at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena; the run concludes on October 29, 2025 with a sold-out date at Perth’s RAC Arena. Frontier Touring is producing the tour.

Listen to his interview with Nova 100 below.

Tickets and tour information: Frontier Touring.

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