The CFL has enlisted a headline act to spearhead its mid-game entertainment during its most notable contest.
The Grey Cup is one of Canada’s grandest sporting spectacles, complete with all the pageantry you’d expect from the final game of the football season. This year’s matchup features CFL powerhouses Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
But they won’t be the biggest names on the field Sunday night. That distinction goes to MGK—real name Colson Baker—who is slated to headline the halftime show.
MGK may not be Kendrick Lamar or Bad Bunny, but over his nearly two-decade career, he’s commanded the spotlight, emerging as one of Cleveland’s most well-known musical voices in recent years.
Here’s what you need to know about MGK, the artist the CFL has tasked with energizing the Princess Auto Stadium crowd Sunday night.
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Who is performing during halftime of the 112th Grey Cup?
MGK will take the stage at halftime of the 112th Grey Cup. He joins an impressive list of performers to have starred during Canada's biggest football game, including Justin Bieber, Lenny Kravitz, Shania Twain and, most recently, the Jonas Brothers.
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What time does the Grey Cup halftime show start?
The Grey Cup halftime show will likely start around 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Grey Cup will kick off at 6 p.m. ET, so the intermission will likely take place about 90 minutes after the initial kickoff.
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Who is MGK?
Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, MGK—formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly—is a rapper, singer, and instrumentalist whose music has garnered millions of listeners. The 35-year-old has enjoyed a nearly 20-year career in the spotlight, first emerging as an artist on Bad Boy Records. His debut album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard charts, led by "Wild Boy," a triple-platinum single featuring Waka Flocka Flame.
MGK has experienced a mid-career renaissance, shifting his sound to embrace pop-punk influences like Blink-182 in recent years. He won Top Rock Album and Top Rock Artist at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards following the release of "Tickets to My Downfall." His 2023 album, "Mainstream Sellout," earned a Grammy Award nomination.
He has released several notable songs, including "Cliche," "Till I Die," "Bad Things" (with Camila Cabello), and "my ex’s best friend" (with blackbear).
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History of Grey Cup halftime performances
The Grey Cup has not always had halftime entertainment. The tradition did not begin in the league until 1990, when the CFL had its first intermission performance.
A number of high-profile acts have performed at the Grey Cup halftime show, including Canadian legends such as Justin Bieber, Shania Twain (twice), Bryan Adams and Nickelback.
Here is a look at the history of Grey Cup halftime performances:
| Grey Cup | Date | Venue | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11th | Nov. 17, 2024 | BC Place Stadium (Vancouver) | Jonas Brothers |
| 110th | Nov. 19, 2023 | Tim Hortons Field (Hamilton) | Green Day |
| 109th | Nov. 20, 2022 | Mosaic Stadium (Regina) | Tyler Hubbard; Jordan Davis; Josh Ross |
| 108th | Dec. 21, 2021 | Tim Hortons Field (Hamilton) | Arkells; The Lumineers; K.Flay |
| 107th | Nov. 24, 2019 | McMahon Stadium (Calgary) | Keith Urban |
| 106th | Nov. 25, 2018 | Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton) | Alessia Cara |
| 105th | Nov. 26, 2017 | TD Place (Ottawa) | Shania Twain |
| 104th | Nov. 27, 2016 | BMO Field (Toronto) | OneRepublic |
| 103rd | Nov. 29, 2015 | Investors Group Field (Winnipeg) | Fall Out Boy |
| 102nd | Nov. 30, 2014 | BC Place (Vancouver) | Imagine Dragons |
| 101st | Nov. 24, 2013 | Mosaic Stadium (Regina) | Hedley |
| 100th | Nov. 25, 2012 | Rogers Centre (Toronto) | Justin Bieber; Carly Rae Jepsen; Marianas Trench; Gordon Lightfoot |
| 99th | Nov. 27, 2011 | BC Place (Vancouver) | Nickelback |
| 98th | Nov. 28, 2010 | Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton) | Bachman & Turner |
| 97th | Nov. 29, 2009 | McMahon Stadium (Calgary) | Blue Rodeo |
| 96th | Nov. 23, 2008 | Olympic Stadium (Montreal) | Theory of a Deadman; Suzie McNeil; Andrée Watters |
| 95th | Nov. 25, 2007 | Rogers Centre (Toronto) | Lenny Kravitz |
| 94th | Nov. 19, 2006 | Canad Inns Stadium (Winnipeg) | Nelly Furtado feat. Saukrates |
| 93rd | Nov. 27, 2005 | BC Place (Vancouver) | The Black Eyed Peas |
| 92nd | Nov. 21, 2004 | Frank Clair Stadium (Ottawa) | The Tragically Hip |
| 91st | Nov. 16, 2003 | Taylor Field (Regina) | Bryan Adams; Sam Roberts |
| 90th | Nov. 24, 2002 | Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton) | Shania Twain |
| 89th | Nov. 25, 2001 | Olympic Stadium (Montreal) | Sass Jordan; Michel Pagliaro |
| 88th | Nov. 26, 2000 | McMahon Stadium (Calgary) | The Guess Who |
| 87th | Nov. 28, 1999 | BC place (Vancouver) | Parablegics |
| 86th | Nov. 22, 1998 | Winnipeg Stadium (Winnipeg) | Love Inc. |
| 85th | Nov. 16, 1997 | Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton) | Trooper |
| 84th | Nov. 24, 1996 | Ivor Wynne Stadium (Hamilton) | The Nylons |
| 83rd | Nov. 19, 1995 | Taylor Field (Regina) | Jack Semple |
| 82nd | Nov. 27, 1994 | BC Place (Vancouver) | Tom Cochrane |
| 81st | Nov. 28, 1993 | McMahon Stadium (Calgary) | Miss Molly |
| 80th | Nov. 29, 1992 | SkyDome (Toronto) | Dan Hill; Celine Dion |
| 79th | Nov. 24, 1991 | Winnipeg Stadium (Winnipeg) | Luba; Burton Cummings |
| 78th | Nov. 25, 1990 | BC Place (Vancouver) | Esmeralda Colombian Dance Group; Mlada Srbadia Serbian Folk Dance Group; Joy of Movement Studio; Yuen's Institute of Tae Kwon-do; Hungarian Csardas Dancers of Vancouver |