The Weeknd set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show

(Image credit: Raphael Dias/Getty Images)

published 12 November 2020

The NFL has revealed which artist will try to pull together a pandemic-friendly Super Bowl halftime performance next year: The Weeknd.

The singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is set to perform during the Super Bowl LV halftime show, the NFL said on Thursday.

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Jennifer Lopez and Shakira co-headlined the Super Bowl halftime show back in February, drawing positive reviews. This year's Super Bowl, however, will clearly look different amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and The New York Times notes that The Weeknd's performance may have to deal with "challenges because of pandemic restrictions," especially considering the halftime show is typically "set up by hundreds of people."

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.

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