The Weeknd To Headline Super Bowl 2021 Half-time Show
R&B star The Weeknd has been announced as the main act for the half-time show at the 2021 Super Bowl. The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, will follow this year’s acts – Jennifer Lopez and Shakira – who performed in Florida this February in a show watched by 104 million viewers.
The Weeknd said he was, “Humbled, honoured and ecstatic to be the centre of that infamous stage”, and that, “We all grow up watching the world’s biggest acts playing the Super Bowl and one can only dream of being in that position.”
His last album, After Hours, was released in March 2020 and graced the No 1 spot on both the UK and US charts. It has also become the most-streamed R&B album ever, while the lead single, Blinding Lights became the longest-running Top 5 single on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Superbowl half-time event, which has seen previous performers such as Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and Prince take to the stage, will be held at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida, on the 7th February 2021.
However, due to Covid-19 there is a chance the game will be moved to March, while reports suggest the venue may only be at 20% capacity for the show, due to safety restrictions.
The Weeknd has won three Grammy awards: Best Urban Contemporary Album for 2015’s Beauty Behind The Madness; Best R&B performance for Earned It, and Best Urban Contemporary Album again for 2016’s Starboy. And 2020’s After Hours is likely to earn him more nominations and awards next year. He has racked up a staggering number of hits, which may well be included in his set, including I Can’t Feel My Face, Starboy and Blinding Lights.
The star shared tweets on 12th November hinting at the news of his Super Bowl announcement, before officially revealing he was set to perform at the event in February 2021.
performing on the iconic stage. see you 02/07/21 @pepsi #pepsihalftime #SBLV pic.twitter.com/oYlQyvKRwh
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 12, 2020