The Weeknd’s Rise to Fame
The Weeknd has thanked Tom Cruise for helping him achieve a No. 1 hit at the beginning of his career. This unexpected turn of events occurred in 2015 when Tom Cruise participated in a lip-sync battle on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He performed "Can’t Feel My Face" from The Weeknd’s second album, Beauty Behind the Madness.
A Star-Studded Performance
The track was The Weeknd’s first top hit in the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and it came shortly after Cruise appeared on the late-night show, calling the singer an "enormous talent." This exposure helped launch The Weeknd’s career, and he has never forgotten the boost he received from the famous actor.
Reflecting on the Past
The Weeknd reflected on this moment during a recent appearance on The Tonight Show. He told host Jimmy Fallon, "I definitely saw that. It actually helped the song. It obviously helped him to reach the record top. To the world’s biggest film star." The Weeknd acknowledged that he has never met Tom Cruise, but he is a big fan of his work, enjoying films like The Color of Money, Vanilla Sky, Rain Man, Eyes Wide Shut, Magnolia, and Mission: Impossible.
Returning the Favor
To show his appreciation for Cruise, The Weeknd wanted to "give back the favor" and promote the actor’s latest Mission: Impossible film, which was released on Friday. He made it clear that he had nothing to do with the film before flashing a cap with The Last Billing logo on it and reading from his own promotional card for the movie.
The Weeknd’s Success
In addition to "Can’t Feel My Face," The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, has scored six more No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Starboy," "The Hills," "Blinding Lights," and "Save Your Tears." He also has most of his songs in the Spotify Billions Club, with 27 tracks reaching over a billion streams. The Weeknd’s success can be attributed to his unique sound and the help he received from unexpected places, like Tom Cruise’s lip-sync battle performance.
