10-time grammy winning artist John Legend will once again grace the main stage of an NBA event. After his thrilling rendition of the National Anthem before game 1 of the NBA Finals over the summer, Legend has been selected to once again lend his talents to an NBA audience. This time it will be in New Orleans at the 2017 NBA All-Star game.
John Legend, 37, has been selected to headline the 66th annual NBA All-Star game halftime show. Sting performed at last year’s All-Star game, and past years have featured halftime show headliners Ariana Grande, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Ne-Yo and Alicia Keys.
The NBA made an official announcement followed up by John Legend himself also breaking the news.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that 10-time Grammy® Award-winning recording artist John Legend will headline the 66th NBA All-Star Game halftime show on Sunday, Feb. 19 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. All-Star Game coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, and the game and all NBA All-Star 2017 Entertainment Series Presented by JBL performances will be seen by fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.
10-time Grammy winner @johnlegend to headline #NBAAllStar 2017 Halftime Show as part of the Entertainment Series presented by @JBLaudio! pic.twitter.com/39iZ46jb0r
— 2017 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) December 12, 2016
Excited to announce that I'll be performing at this year's #NBAAllStar game in NOLA. pic.twitter.com/70yUfQao1B
— John Legend (@johnlegend) December 12, 2016
Legend is fresh off the release of his fifth studio album, ‘Darkness and Light’. He also costars alongside Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in the movie “La La Land”.
The NBA had originally planned to host the annual showcase of talents in North Carolina but the controversial HB2 law stopped that. The new bill, otherwise known as the ‘bathroom law’, prohibits local governments from enacting anti-discrimination measures.
The 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend kicks off Friday, Feb. 17 with the All-Star Celebrity Game. Catch the NBA All-Star game itself Sunday, Feb. 19 at the Smoothie King Centre, airing at 8 p.m. on TNT.
