Ayra Starr Set as First Afrobeats Artist to Headline NFL International Halftime Show

The NFL is expanding its international footprint, and the league finally caught up to the sound running London's airwaves. According to an announcement reported by Billboard, Ayra Starr will headline the halftime show when the Philadelphia Eagles play the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 11. The booking makes Starr the first Afrobeats artist selected to headline an NFL International Game Halftime show. The league putting Starr on this stage in London isn't just corporate pandering; it reflects the reality that UK audiences embraced West African sounds as mainstream pop years ahead of American radio. Starr is entering the performance off the momentum of her third studio album, Starrgirl, which landed at No. 4 on Billboard’s World Albums Chart. "London is one of my favorite places in the world and to bring Starrgirl to the NFL global stage is a dream come true for me," Starr said in the release. "I can’t wait to see you guys there!" The London showcase is one of a record seven international halftime sets staged by the NFL this season, alongside performances by the Jonas Brothers in Melbourne on Sept. 10 and Ricky Martin with Pedro Sampaio in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27. Viewers can watch Starr's halftime performance live on Oct. 11 at 2:30 p.m. BST (9:30 a.m. ET), broadcast free to air on Channel 5 and on Sky Sports.