On Thursday, R&B superstar The Weeknd was announced as the headliner for the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show.
The Pepsi-sponsored performance will take place during the NFL championship game on February 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. The performance will air on CBS.
"We all grow up watching the world's biggest acts playing the Super Bowl and one can only dream of being in that position. I'm humbled, honored and ecstatic to be the center of that infamous stage this year," The Weeknd said in a statement.
In February, CBS Sports announced that the 2021 Super Bowl would have a 6:30 p.m. ET kick off, but its unclear if this will be adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are thrilled to have The Weeknd join us in Tampa Bay on the Pepsi Halftime Stage," said NFL Chief Media and Business Officer Brian Rolapp in a statement. "Halftime Show performances have a history of excellence and creativity and we look forward to seeing what he will bring to Super Bowl LV."
Pepsi and the NFL are also collaborating with rapper Jay Z's entertainment company Roc Nation. "The Weeknd has introduced a sound all his own. His soulful uniqueness has defined a new generation of greatness in music and artistry," Jay Z said in a statement. "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."
With the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing, it's unclear if fans will be able to attend the game and The Weeknd's performance live. Home games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently allow a reduced capacity of about 16,000 people at Raymond James stadium. In September, an NFL official told the Tampa Bay Times that the league's "hope is going to be to fill this stadium with fans," but is preparing for alternate scenarios.
Regardless of whether fans will be allowed to attend the games or not, The Weeknd has proven that he can give an electrifying performance without an audience. He opened the VMAs in August with an explosive (literally) performance of his After Hours single "Blinding Lights" on the "Edge" at Hudson Yards in New York.
It's also unclear if The Weeknd will have guest performers join in for the Halftime show. For the 2020 Super Bowl, Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Emme Muñiz joined co-headliners Jennifer Lopez and Shakira for their performance.
