09/17/26 07:55:00
Printable Page
09/17 07:50 CDT Burna Boy to headline halftime at the NFL's first
regular-season game in Paris
Burna Boy to headline halftime at the NFL's first regular-season game in Paris
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.
AP Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Burna Boy is returning to Stade de France for another
historic moment, headlining halftime at the NFL's first regular-season game in
Paris.
The Grammy-winning Nigerian star will perform Oct. 25 when the Pittsburgh
Steelers face the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France, the league announced
Thursday. The performance marks a return to the stadium for Burna Boy, who last
year became the first African artist to headline Stade de France.
"Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into
Stade de France for a moment like this means everything," Burna Boy told The
Associated Press in a statement. "The NFL is bringing something to France that
has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it
representing African music and I intend to give the people a show they will not
forget."
The Paris game is part of the NFL's largest international season to date, with
games being played across several countries and four continents. The league is
staging a record seven halftime shows as it increasingly pairs its overseas
games with major music acts.
Burna Boy joins a lineup that includes Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio for the
NFL's Rio de Janeiro game on Sept. 27, Ayra Starr in London on Oct. 11, Cage
the Elephant in Munich on Nov. 15 and Mexican rock trio The Warning in Mexico
City on Nov. 22. The Jonas Brothers performed earlier this month during the
league's game in Melbourne.
"The first NFL game in France deserves a halftime moment that matches the
occasion, and there is no artist better suited to it than Burna Boy," said Tim
Tubito, the NFL's senior director of global game presentation, music and
entertainment.
Tubito said Burna Boy's history in the stadium and the popularity of African
music in Paris made him a natural choice for the inaugural game.
Burna Boy, whose music draws from Afrobeats, hip-hop, reggae, R&B and other
influences, won a Grammy for his 2020 album "Twice as Tall." His catalog
includes "African Giant," "Love, Damini" and his most recent album, "No Sign of
Weakness."
He has also become one of African music's most prominent touring acts,
performing in arenas and stadiums around the world while helping open doors for
a generation of African artists reaching increasingly global audiences.
The league has played more than 60 regular-season games outside the United
States, with previous stops including London, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid,
Dublin, Sao Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto. France, Australia and Rio de
Janeiro are among the new markets on the 2026 schedule.
Burna Boy's halftime performance will air live in France on France Tlvisions
and beIN Sports.
___
See AP's full NFL coverage here
|
