Who is Shaboozey? 7 facts about the Lions-Bears halftime player

It’s not Thanksgiving without football.

Traditionally, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys play games on Thanksgiving every year. The Lions announced on November 10 that Shaboozey, a Nigerian-American country singer and rapper, would headline the halftime show when Detroit took on the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day.

According to Revolt, Shaboozey has taken the industry by storm in recent years for his unique “genre-bending” sound. He first gained attention with his 2018 song “Start a Riot,” which was featured on the “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” soundtrack.

Earlier this year, the country singer collaborated with Beyoncé on two tracks for her eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter. His 2024 single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed at the top for 15 consecutive weeks.

This song helped earn Shaboozey Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song.

But who is Shaboozey, one of the year’s biggest rising country stars? Here are some facts you should know about the Lions-Bears halftime player.

Where is Shaboozey from?

According to the Los Angeles Times, Shaboozey was born in Woodbridge, Virginia, south of Washington, D.C. Both his parents are Nigerian and his father is an immigrant, according to GQ.

He has been quoted as saying he developed a love for country music, in part due to the genre’s similarities to West African culture.

“I think there’s the folk tales, the storytelling aspect that you see in West African music, which is also a very big part of country music,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “Obviously the banjo also has African roots. Country music came from people from the South and Appalachia, slaves and indentured servants from Europe, all collecting and sharing stories.”

How old is Shaboozey?

Shaboozey, a Taurus, was born on May 9, 1995, making him 29 years old.

Shaboozey attended a boarding school in Nigeria

Although he grew up primarily in Virginia, Shaboozey spent two years in a boarding school in Nigeria during his middle school years, according to the “Today” show.

Shaboozey’s stage name is based on his actual last name

According to E! News: Shaboozey’s stage name is based on his real name, Collins Obinna Chibueze. He reportedly adopted the nickname Shaboozey after misspelling and pronouncing his last name during his school years. The Igbo name Chibueze translates to “God is King”.

Shaboozey dreamed of becoming an author

Shaboozey told Harper’s Bazaar that he once dreamed of becoming a novelist before deciding to pursue a career in music.

“I was always telling stories and always trying to find ways to create,” he said. “Maybe it was a short film with my friends or writing, but I’ve always been fascinated by telling stories.”

Shaboozey loves old western movies

According to NBC, much of Shaboozey’s music is inspired by his love of old western films. The singer and rapper, who enjoys reading old pulp magazines and outlaw cowboy romance novels, told the news site that many of these stories have influenced much of modern music, including his unique sound.

“I love bridging the gap and showing people that hip-hop and country-western music are the same concepts, especially Waylon Jennings and Marty Robbins and things like that,” he explained.

Shaboozey collaborated with Beyoncé

Shaboozey’s appearance on Beyoncé’s 2024 country album “Cowboy Carter” bears repeating. The singer-songwriter collaborated on two songs from her eighth studio album: “Sweet Honey Buckiin'” and “Spaghettii,” which also features Linda Martell, the first Black female solo artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.

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Who is Shaboozey? 7 facts about the Lions-Bears halftime player

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