The Weeknd Biography
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye was born on February 16, 1990, in Toronto, Canada, to Ethiopian parents. He began posting music anonymously on YouTube in 2010 and built a cult following before being signed. Blinding Lights from After Hours became the most streamed song on Spotify of all time and spent 57 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Personal Life
Who are The Weeknd's parents?
Makkonen Tesfaye, Samrawit Hailu
Was The Weeknd married?
The Weeknd was never married.
Did The Weeknd have children?
The Weeknd had no children.
What religion was The Weeknd?
The Weeknd was N/A.
What was The Weeknd's ethnicity?
The Weeknd was of Canadian heritage.
Career Highlights
Albums
- Kiss Land (2013)
- Beauty Behind the Madness (2015)
- Starboy (2016)
- After Hours (2020)
- Dawn FM (2022)
Awards
- 4 Grammy Awards
- Billboard Music Awards
- American Music Awards
- Super Bowl LV halftime performer
Facts About The Weeknd
- Blinding Lights is the most streamed song on Spotify of all time
- He performed at Super Bowl LV halftime show in 2021
- He donated $1 million to Black Lives Matter organizations
- He erased his own Grammy eligibility to protest the Recording Academy
The Weeknd Quotes
"I want to make music that people can feel, not just hear."
Legacy
The Weeknd's Blinding Lights is the most streamed song on Spotify ever. He performed at Super Bowl LV. He has withdrawn from Grammy consideration to protest the Recording Academy's practices.
Sources
Last verified: 2026-05-20