The Weeknd continues to have a monstrous year following the release of his critically-acclaimed fourth studio album After Hours. He’s already compiled an impressive list of accolades before embarking on this successful year — and things may be getting even bigger for the Toronto crooner.
On Thursday (November 12), The Weeknd announced via Instagram he’ll be handling performing duties at the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show in Tampa, Florida. The Weeknd first teased fans with two videos posted on the social media app where the singer stood in a room with a blue light flickering around it.
The Weeknd then shared a third image that directly referenced the big news where it showed his profile and the logo of the big game right under with the caption “performing on the iconic stage. see you 02/07/21 @pepsi #pepsihalftime #SBLV.”
Vice President of Marketing at Pepsi Todd Kaplan praised The Weeknd for his music in a press release.
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“Pepsi has worked with some of music’s biggest artists over the years — from Prince to Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and most recently Jennifer Lopez and Shakira,” Kaplan wrote. “After a year that’s largely been void of live music, we can’t wait to watch The Weeknd transform the world’s biggest stage with his limitless talent and creativity, delivering what will most certainly be an unforgettable performance that will be remembered for years to come.”
PepsiCo’s Senior Vice President of Sports, Media and Entertainment Adam Harter added, “We expect The Weeknd will continue to raise the bar, setting a new precedent both musically and visually for the most-watched performance of the year.”
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JAY-Z played a pivotal role in securing The Weeknd for the show this year, too. Last year, Hov signed a partnership deal with the NFL that allowed him to produce the halftime show.
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“The Weeknd has introduced a sound all his own,” Jay said. “His soulful uniqueness has defined a new generation of greatness in music and artistry. 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 recently earned a spot on Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list. In an article penned by rock icon Elton John, The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” was considered 2020’s best pop single and even compared to the late Prince.
