Country star Green to headline Grey Cup halftime show in Calgary

Country star Riley Green is set to headline the halftime show of the 113th Grey Cup, the CFL announced on Thursday.

Canadian icon Sarah McLachlan will sing O Canada and Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of the legendary Blue Rodeo will perform before the game.

The Grey Cup is set for Nov. 15 at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium.

“From national treasures to global stars, this year’s Grey Cup entertainment lineup reflects what makes the CFL special: homegrown excellence, world-class talent and a uniquely Canadian celebration on our biggest stage,” said CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a statement.

The 37-year-old Green, who has three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Canada Country Chart including “Don’t Mind If I Do,” a duet with Ella Langley, has a personal connection to football. Green played quarterback at Jacksonville State. On the team from 2007 to 2009, Green appeared in four games, starting two, threw for 612 yards and four touchdowns.

Green’s newest album, That’s Just Me, was released on Sept. 18 and features an appearance from iconic country duo Brooks & Dunn. Green has previously won five Academy of Country Music Awards and four Country Music Association Awards.

“We’ve spent a lot of time touring across Canada over the past several years, and the fans up there have always shown up for us in a big way,” Green said in a statement. “I’m excited to finally get to experience a Grey Cup and be part of the energy surrounding it. Getting to perform at halftime in front of that crowd is going to be a hell of a time, and a pretty special way to wrap up what’s been a really wild year!”

A native of Halifax, McLachlan is one of Canada’s most successful musical exports, selling over 40 million albums worldwide. The creator of the Lilith Fair tour, McLachlan has four No. 1 albums in Canada. A 12-time Juno Award winner and three-time Grammy Award winner, her 1994 album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is considered one of the decade’s seminal releases.

Accomplished solo artists in their own right, Cuddy and Keelor have been co-lead vocalists of Blue Rodeo since its formation in 1984. Responsible for classics “Try,” “Five Days in May,” and “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet,” Blue Rodeo has released 16 studio albums and four live releases. The band previously served as the halftime act for the 97th Grey Cup in 2009, which was also played in Calgary.

The two-time Juno Award-winning James Barker Band will also perform at the Grey Cup Kickoff Show.

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