The biggest game of the year is going to feature a performance from one of the biggest country stars in the world.
After months of speculation, the CFL announced the headlining act for halftime at this year’s championship game.
And yeah, country music fans — there’s a lot of them in Calgary, in case you hadn’t heard — are going to very happy.
So let’s get this out of the way: Keith Urban will be headlining the 2019 Grey Cup Halftime Show.
Urban, one of the most popular country artists of the last 20 years, will be performing a medley of his biggest hits at the big CFL championship game in Calgary on Nov. 24.
For country fans, Urban doesn’t need any introduction.
His resume goes back two decades now, and the Australian has sold more than 20 million albums, six of which have reach No. 1, while also releasing 23 singles that have hit No. 1 on the charts.
Songs like Somebody Like You, Days Go By and Sweet Thing have become karaoke classics.
He’s also been a judge on American Idol, has won four Grammys and multiple Canadian Country Music Awards.
Urban’s got a Calgary connection, too.
“The first time I think I performed a sold-out stadium (in Canada) would have been the Saddledome in Calgary,” Urban said in a press release announcing his halftime performance. “I remember halfway through my show, thinking ‘Man, this crowd is amazing. Whoever is coming on after us is gonna love these guys,’ and I suddenly thought ‘I’m the guy that’s coming on. I’m here. This is it. This is my crowd.’ “
Urban’s performance will come right in the middle of the CFL’s championship game at McMahon Stadium and at the end of a week-long festival around the city that celebrates the Grey Cup.
The teams that are going to be competing for the championship itself won’t be determined until a week before, but much of the festival lineup has already been announced.
There’s a massive family area in and around the BMO Centre, as well as team parties where fans of every CFL franchise congregate. This year also features the first-ever Grey Cup rodeo and a concert from Canadian alt-rock legends Our Lady Peace.
Combined with the fight for the Grey Cup itself, though, Urban’s performance promises to make for a thrilling end to Calgary’s big week.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
