Ayra Starr Makes History as First African Act to Perform at an NFL Halftime Show

Image Credit: NFL/AP
It’s an Ayra Starr world, and we’re just living in it. The Afrobeats superstar added another feather to her proverbial cap when she took the stage to make history as the first African act to perform at an NFL halftime show, marking a significant moment for both the young star and the genre.
The “Rush” singer performed during halftime of the NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday. What followed was a showcase of her performance prowess, balancing some of her earlier hits with material from her latest album, Starrgirl. She opened with “Heaven Baby” before moving through “Santa,” “Rush” and “Dangerous,” eventually closing with a medley of “Hot Body” and “Ms. Paper.”

Ayra’s appearance is part of the NFL’s expanding international music programme. Burna Boy is also set to headline the league’s first regular-season game in Paris later this month, as the NFL rolls out its biggest international halftime programme to date, featuring seven headline performances across seven countries and four continents.