Pop star in lip-synching controversy

British pop star Ellie Goulding was embroiled in a lip-synching storm after she suffered an embarrassing hiccup during her performance at the AFL grand final.

The 28-year-old was the second artist to hit the stage, following American crooner Chris Isaak, before the opening bounce at the MCG.

But her two-song performance may be best remembered for a technical glitch that lit up social media and had many sports fans wondering if the songstress was just miming along to her hit, 'Love Me Like You Do'.

Pacing across the stage, Goulding seemed frozen in the spotlight as the backing track of the song blared across the famous stadium.

But there was no mistake at the second time of asking, with Goulding hitting her straps when the system was reset and the song began again.

But despite getting through the rest of her set without another incident, fans jumped onto social media to ask the burning question: was she lip-synching?

Surely Ellie Goulding just didn't get caught out lip syncing.... #AFLGF #aflgrandfinal

— Troy Riordan (@reardo34) October 3, 2015

Ellie Goulding sounds almost as good as her recorded voice... Oh, wait. #AFLGF #soundcrewgavethataway

— Maree M (@MareeM4) October 3, 2015