NBA announces Sting will headline 2016 All-Star Game halftime show
Grammy-award winner and former The Police frontman Sting will headline the 2016 NBA All-Star Game halftime show in Toronto.
You may be thinking—wait, that Sting? Did the NBA confuse Toronto with London for its first international All-Star Weekend?
While Sting may not be the most currentchoice for a halftime performer, let’s not forget the music legend is, if anything, an overqualified choice. Anyone who is honest will tell you they felt something when they heard “Message in a Bottle” for the first time. And “Roxanne” is just begging to become our country’s next club banger. There is no doubting Sting has some classics in his arsenal. His varied musical styles and laundry list of accomplishments can compete with anyone else.
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And Sting is certainly no stranger to big performances, having played the Super Bowl with a little help from Shania Twain and and No Doubt back in 2003. A worldly man with international fame is an inspired choice for an All-Star game halftime show, especially when choices such as Drake or Justin Bieber may have been a little too obvious. (And who’s to say Biebs and Drake couldn’t join Sting for an incredible team-up?)
So buckle in for what should be an interesting change of pace at halftime of the All-Star Game this year. At the very least, the live tweets will be outstanding.
The 65th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m., which means you still have a couple weeks to brush up on Sting’s discography.
GALLERY: NBA ALL-STAR GAME MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
NBA All-Star Game Musical Performances
Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj
2015 in New York City
Christina Aguilera
2015 in New York City
Nas
2015 in New York City
Sean Combs, Pharrell Williams, Busta Rhymes, Nelly and Snoop Dogg
2014 in New Orleans
Alicia Keys
2013 in Houston
Ke$ha
2013 in Houston
Ne-Yo
2013 in Houston
Ludacris
2013 in Houston
B.o.B
2013 in Houston
Nicki Minaj
2012 in Orlando
Pitbull
2012 in Orlando
Chris Brown
2012 in Orlando
Ne-Yo
2012 in Orlando
Rihanna and Kanye West
2011 in Los Angeles
Rihanna and Drake
2011 in Los Angeles
Lenny Kravitz
2011 in Los Angeles
Usher
2010 in Arlington, Texas
Shakira
2010 in Arlington, Texas
Alicia Keys
2010 in Arlington, Texas
Juanes and John Legend
2009 in Phoenix
Harry Connick, Jr. and Ellis Marsalis
2008 in New Orleans
Ian and Art Neville
2008 in New Orleans
Davell Crawford and Dr. John
2008 in New Orleans
Allen Toussaint
2008 in New Orleans
Christina Aguilera
2007 in Las Vegas
Toni Braxton
2007 in Las Vegas
Wayne Newton
2007 in Las Vegas
Carrie Underwood
2006 in Houston
John Legend
2006 in Houston
Destiny's Child
2005 in Denver
LeAnn Rimes
2005 in Denver
Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy
2005 in Denver
Beyoncé
2004 in Los Angeles
Outkast
2004 in Los Angeles
Michael MacDonald
2004 in Los Angeles
Mariah Carey
2003 in Atlanta
Elton John
2002 in Philadelphia
Harry Connick, Jr.
2001 in Washington, D.C.