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The 2019 NHL All-Star Game will offer up more than just such well-known hockey players as Erik Karlsson, Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby and Auston Matthews.
The event will also feature Bebe Rexha, the increasingly popular pop singer known for such hits as “I’m a Mess” and “Meant to Be,” and for gloriously taking on the Hollywood fashion industry.
The league announced Thursday, Jan. 17, that the 29-year-old Rexha will headline the entertainment offerings at the All-Star Game on Jan. 26 at the SAP Center at San Jose.
“We are super excited that she is performing,” says Steve Mayer, NHL Chief Content Officer, noting that the league was specifically looking for a pop act with both big numbers on social media and current hit songs.
“Our music at these events tends to lean sometimes a little more rock than pop,” Mayer says. “But, when it comes to All-Star (Game), we sort of look at things differently. And we are playing to a big audience on NBC on a Saturday night — for the first time in a very long time, the All-Star Game is in prime time.”
Rexha certainly has widespread commercial appeal, having sold more than 12 million singles and amassed billions of streams during her still relatively brief career. She recently made headlines when she griped on social media that she had been rebuffed by several fashion designers who refused to fit her for her Grammy appearance because she’s “too big.” For the record, she’s between a size 6 and 8.
The posts earned her kudos by celebrities and fans and no doubt increased her social media following, which had already included more than 1.2 million followers on Twitter. The NHL plans to leverage her following to its advantage.
“She is going to be involved with us (on social media) as well — promoting the game and promoting her involvement,” Mayer says.
Rexha, who is nominated in the best new artist and best country duo/group performance (for “Meant to Be” with Florida Georgia Line) at the 61st annual Grammy Awards, will be performing during the second intermission at the Shark Tank.
She’ll be performing a short set, some of which will be shown during the broadcast on NBC.
Rexha apparently is pretty new to the sport of hockey, but the NHL is doing its best to win over the pop star.
“We are also trying to turn her into a hockey fan,” Mayer says. “She took in a hockey game about a month ago in Toronto. She immediately got hooked and loves it.”
Additional All-Star Game entertainment and performers — such as who will be singing the national anthems of Canada and the U.S. — will be announced shortly.
