The Weeknd will headline the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show
'I'm humbled, honoured and ecstatic to be the centre of that infamous stage'
Canadian R&B/pop musician the Weeknd will headline the halftime show at Super Bowl LV, scheduled to take place Feb. 7, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
The announcement was made on Nov. 12 by the NFL, Pepsi and Roc Nation.
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PepsiHalftime?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PepsiHalftime</a> Show on <a href="https://twitter.com/CBS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBS</a> featuring <a href="https://twitter.com/theweeknd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theweeknd</a> is sure to be nothing short of transcendent 🙌 <a href="https://twitter.com/pepsi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pepsi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RocNation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rocnation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SBLV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SBLV</a> <a href="https://t.co/EkG3eGaHRO">pic.twitter.com/EkG3eGaHRO</a>
—@NFL"In less than a decade, the Weeknd has amassed a global fanbase, become a multi-award winning artist, and recently, was named one of the most influential people of 2020 by Time Magazine," reads the NFL's announcement. "Regarded for his creative vision, the Weeknd is known for his genre-bending music and redefining storytelling, both sonically and visually."
"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 responded, adding "I'm humbled, honoured and ecstatic to be the centre of that infamous stage this year."
In addition to the Time Magazine nod, the Weeknd released one of 2020's biggest albums, After Hours.
The 2021 Super Bowl halftime show will mark the second collaboration among the NFL, Pepsi and Roc Nation. Their presentation of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime provided a high-profile platform for Latin pop music.
The Weeknd is the first Canadian musician to headline the halftime show since Shania Twain in 2003.