“Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight will sing the national anthem in the Super Bowl, according to the NFL and CBS, which will broadcast the game on February 3. Super Bowl LIII will be held in Knight’s hometown of Atlanta.
The seven-time Grammy winner said she is proud to sing the anthem, a pre-game tradition. which has sparked a polarizing debate during the last two football seasons. “I am proud to use my voice to unite and represent our country in my hometown of Atlanta,” Knight said in a statement. “The NFL recently announced its new Inspire Change social justice platform, and I’m honored to be a part of its inaugural year.”
In May 2018, the NFL mandate that all players should represent the national anthem and if they did not, the teams could discipline them. However, before the season the NFL withdrew the new policy.
The league announced its “Inspire Change” initiative earlier this month to show “the collaborative efforts of players, owners and the league to create positive change in communities across the country,” the NFL said. in a statement. The NFL Players and Owners Joint Working Group approved two new social justice grants to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Operation HOPE, and last season supported Dream Corps and the United Negro College Fund.
The initiative is a response to the protests during the national anthemand the reaction they provoked after former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began to kneel in August 2016. President Trump fueled controversy last season.
Marcio José Sánchez / AP
Super Bowl half-time show
In addition to Knight’s pre-game performance, Maroon 5 will headline the half time show. The band will be joined by rapper Travis Scott and Big Boi, who is from Atlanta.
Several artists reportedly refused to play in the Super Bowl half-time show, as a show of solidarity with Kaepernick and other players who have knelt in protest during the anthem.
Maroon 5
Both Rihanna and Pink turned down the show, reports Entertainment Tonight. “Rihanna was the favorite for next year’s Super Bowl half-time program,” a source told ET. “CBS and the NFL first contacted Rihanna, who, after thinking about the offer, decided to approve because of the NFL and the plight of the kneeling players.”
Kaepernick sent a message to Travis Scott after the rapper decided to act in the big game. The player turned activist retweeted fans rejecting a recent Variety report claiming that Kaepernick and Scott had reached a point of “mutual respect and understanding” after “at least one phone conversation,” ET reports.
“There is NO mutual respect and NO understanding for anyone working against @ Kaepernick7 PERIOD. #Stoplying,” read a tweet from Kaepernick’s girlfriend, Nessa, who retweeted.
Jay-Z tried to convince Travis Scott of the controversial performance, Variety reported. Representatives of both stars declined to comment or could not be reached for comment.
How to watch Super Bowl LIII
- What: Super Bowl LIII
- Date: Sunday, February 3, 2019
- Time: Start at 6:30 pm ET / 3:30 pm PT
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- On TV: Your local CBS station
- Online broadcast: It broadcasts live on CBS All Access, CBSSports.com or fuboTV. Start a free trial here.
- In:
- NFL
- Star flag
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