The Weeknd will headline Super Bowl LV halftime show
Super Bowl LV is less than three precious months away. You’ve probably already marked your calendar with stars, exclamation points and arrows pointing at the date, Feb. 7, but you’re about to get some concrete information about our yearly football extravaganza beyond, well, just the date.
Canadian pop star The Weeknd announced Thursday that he’ll be the headliner for the Super Bowl LV halftime show in Tampa, Florida.
performing on the iconic stage. see you 02/07/21 @pepsi #pepsihalftime #SBLV pic.twitter.com/oYlQyvKRwh
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 12, 2020
“We all grow up watching the world’s biggest acts playing the Super Bowl, and one can only dream of being in that position,” the Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) said in a statement. “I’m humbled, honored and ecstatic to be the center of that infamous stage this year.”
February’s show, like the last one’s heart-stopping halftime collaboration between Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, will be produced by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
"The Weeknd has ushered in a sound all his own. His soulful uniqueness has defined a new generation of greatness in music and artistry," Jay-Z said via NFL.com. "This is an extraordinary moment in time and the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show is going to be an extraordinary experience with an extraordinary performer."
The Weeknd has five No. 1 hits over his career, including “Blinding Lights,” which has spent a record-breaking 46 weeks (and counting) in the top spot.
COVID-19 challenges
The Super Bowl, as well as the halftime show, is going to look and feel a lot different due to COVID-19. Raymond James Stadium will host only a fraction of the fans it would normally have for football’s marquee game. Instead of playing to a field and stadium of screaming fans, The Weeknd will be playing to significantly less.
COVID-19 also presents challenges as far as staging the show. The NFL has yet to reveal how it plans to hold a game and a halftime show while obeying local Tampa regulations.
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