Elton John to host 2011 ARIA awards?

Sir Elton John is believed to be in the running to host this year's ARIAs.

The 'Rocket Man' singer, who recently announced that he will be touring Australia later this year, has reportedly omitted to organise a Sydney performance because he will be presenting the 25th music awards ceremony.

According to The Daily Telegraph, John's fans were unimpressed when his November tour was announced minus a show at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where he has previously performed 41 times.

Industry insiders have now revealed that his tour could have been scheduled to coincide with the ARIAs.

John hosted the ARIAs at the Sheraton Wentworth Hotel in 1987. At the time, he said that the "only reason" he agreed to present them was because they were "not on television". He later warned organisers to keep it that way to make it "more personal", but they ignored him.

Last year's awards show was criticised for poor production and an over-complicated format. Music mogul Michael Gudinski later publicly encouraged ARIA chief executive Dan Rose to get rid of "irrelevant" people and make some changes to the event to make it more of a "special night".

During his tour of Australia, John will be performing in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and the Hunter Valley.

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