The Weeknd claims he'll perform the Super Bowl halftime show entirely solo
Though the average Boomer is likely still unclear if "The Weeknd" is a band or a person, the Canadian singer is set to become only the 10th performer in Super Bowl history to headline the halftime show solo — or so he claims.
Speaking to the NFL Network on Thursday, the "Blinding Lights" singer was asked if fans should expect anyone (oh, you know, like Daft Punk or Kendrick Lamar or a projection of a beloved dead rock star) to show up with him on stage on Sunday. "I've been reading a lot of rumors," The Weeknd said, "and I wouldn't bet on it." Which is a strange way of saying "no," but he went on to confirm more firmly that "there wasn't any room to fit it in the narrative and the story I was telling in the performance. So, there's no special guests, no."
That news might be disappointing for some of the NFL's average fans, who are not exactly The Weeknd's core demographic of millennials and Gen Zers. But let's not lose sight of the real reason why it's good to invite special guests to the show: who else will entertain the audience during your costume changes? Jeva Lange
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Editor's note: After previously reporting the halftime show would be longer than usual, a Billboard correction indicates it will in fact be the same length as previous years. This story has been updated.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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