On Sunday, October 11, 2026, Nigerian singer Ayra Starr made history as the first African artist to headline an NFL International Games halftime show, performing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The Afrobeats star delivered a halftime performance featuring her hit tracks “Rush” and “Heaven Baby” during the NFL London Game matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Performing on a temporary stage positioned at midfield, Ayra Starr showcased Nigerian music before a capacity crowd at one of the premier international venues for American football.
Her featured appearance marks a major milestone for the global reach of African music as the NFL continues expanding its international presence by hosting regular-season games outside the United States.
The performance further elevates Ayra Starr’s global profile, solidifying her position among the prominent African artists driving the international reach and popularity of Afrobeats.
Following the performance, fans have already began anticipating a Grammy award for the song ‘heaven baby’.
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Backstory…
Ayra Starr made her official debut in January 2021 with a self-titled extended play before releasing her debut album, 19 & Dangerous, later that year. The project introduced her blend of Afropop, R&B and pop influences, with songs such as Away and Sare helping her build an audience.
Her breakthrough extended beyond Nigeria in 2022 with the release of Rush, which became one of her biggest international hits. The song earned her a nomination in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2024 Grammy Awards, making her one of the Nigerian artists to gain recognition in the category’s inaugural year.
Meanwhile, this win for the singer comes after her Starrgirl album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard World Albums chart.
The achievement was revealed on Wednesday in the Billboard World Albums ranking for the week of August 29, 2026.
Ayra Starr’s Starrgirl entered the chart just behind three K-pop male groups: Stray Kids’ This & That, CORTIS’ GREEN GREEN, and ATEEZ’s Golden Hour: Part.5, while South African vocalist Tyla took the No. 5 spot with APOP*.
Read Also: Ayra Starr’s ‘Starrgirl’ Debuts Makes No. 4 on Billboard World Albums
