COLUMBUS, Ohio – March 14, 2026 – The United Football League today announced that GRAMMY® Award-nominated, multi-platinum singer and songwriter Gavin DeGraw will perform at halftime of the Columbus Aviators’ home opener on Friday, April 3 at Historic Crew Stadium.
The Aviators will host the DC Defenders in the nationally televised matchup, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET. DeGraw’s halftime performance will be part of the team’s “614 Kickoff” celebration, marking the franchise’s first home game in its inaugural UFL season.
Best known for chart-topping hits including “I Don’t Want To Be,” “Chariot,” and “Not Over You,” DeGraw has built a career defined by his distinctive voice and a signature blend of rock, pop, soul, and funk. Since the release of his platinum-certified debut album Chariot in 2003, he has remained a mainstay on radio and streaming platforms while touring globally and sharing stages with some of music’s biggest names.
The April 3 game is expected to be one of the signature events of the Aviators’ inaugural season, combining UFL football with live entertainment and a celebration of Columbus sports and community culture.
As part of opening weekend, UFL teams are offering a special incentive for fans to participate in the UFL Kickoff Challenge, including a 33 percent discount on home opener tickets purchased during the two-week window. The offer provides fans an opportunity to secure a discounted seat for opening weekend—including the chance to experience the home opener celebration and performance by DeGraw. All ticket information can be found at Aviators Ticket Central.
About Gavin DeGraw:
GRAMMY® Award-nominated, multi-Platinum singer and songwriter Gavin DeGraw’s inimitable voice and soulful style boldly bloomed on his 2003 Platinum-certified full-length debut, Chariot. It included the Gold single “Follow Through,” as well as Platinum hits, “Chariot,” and “I Don’t Want To Be.” In 2008, his self-titled second album, Gavin DeGraw, bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 powered by the Platinum-selling single “In Love With a Girl.” His Gold-certified project Sweeter saw him return to the Top 10 as the single “Not Over You” went four-times Platinum. Meanwhile, his duet with Colbie Caillat, “We Both Know,” from the motion picture Safe Haven garnered a GRAMMY® Award nomination for Best Song Written For Visual Media. With a front row seat to this wonderfully wild life led by his late parents Lynne and John Wayne, DeGraw recounts his most meaningful memories and valuable lessons on his most seventh full-length offering, Face The River. In 2023, DeGraw released his applauded first-ever Christmas EP, A Classic Christmas, and most recently revisited the album that started it all with Chariot 20, a reimagined anniversary celebration of his lauded debut. DeGraw is the rare talent who can seamlessly share the stage with Billy Joel and The Allman Brothers or Maroon 5 and Shania Twain with his signature fusion of pop, soul, country, folk and funk.