John Legend, 2017 NBA All-Star Game: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

John Legend will make his return to NBA All-Star Weekend when he provides the halftime entertainment during the 2017 All-Star Game in New Orleans.

Legend has attended the game in previous years as a fan and has also performed numerous times in different capacities at other NBA games.

The All-Star Game starts 8 p.m. Eastern on February 19 and is televised on TNT from New Orleans.

Here’s what you need to know about Legend and his halftime performance:

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1. Legend Released His 5th Studio Album In December 2016

On December 2, 2016, Legend released his fifth studio album, “Darkness and Light.” The album’s first single was that track “Love Me Now,” which received many positive reviews.

According to a news release from the NBA, the song had already garnered over 35 million views on Spotify shortly after its release.

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2. He’s Sang The National Anthem at Past Sporting Events

Seeing Legend at NBA games and the All-Star festivities has become commonplace over the years. At the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Legend also performed at halftime.

During Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Legend took to the court again, only this time to sing the National Anthem before the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors faced off.

Prior to the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, Legend also sang the National Anthem.

But it isn’t just at NBA events that Legend has performed at. He also sang “America The Beautiful” prior to the Super Bowl in 2015.

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3. The Musician Performed at the 2017 GRAMMYs

Legend performed the song “God Only Knows” at the 2017 GRAMMYs with fellow singer Cynthia Erivo.

Erivo is a British and actress that has been active in the industry since 2011. She sings songs in the R&B, soul, gospel and Broadway genres.

The duo’s performance segued into the “in memoriam” portion of the awards show when those who contributed to the music industry and died in the past year were honored for their work.

Following the montage of photos and musical acts, Legend and Erivo finished off the song.

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4. Legend Is Married & Has a Kid

Legend and model Chrissy Teigen had dated four years before the two got engaged in 2011. They got married in 2013 in Italy at Villa Pizzo, Brides.com wrote.

The couple had their first child, Luna Simone Stephens, in 2016.

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5. Legend Attended School the University of Pennsylvania

Legend was born in Ohio in 1978 and is one of four kids in his family. He was homeschooled off and on by his mom and first joined his church choir when he was 4-years old. When he was 7, he started playing piano.

Legend said he was offered to be admitted into Harvard University, and also received several scholarships to other prestigious colleges.

He ultimately decided to go to the University of Pennsylvania. It was there that he got into his musical groove, being heavily involved in a jazz and a capella group.

At Penn, Legend studied English while having an emphasis in African-American literature.

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