Mickey Guyton to sing national anthem before Super Bowl
Country music artist Mickey Guyton will sing the national anthem before Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and eclectic R&B songstress Jhené Aiko will sing “America the Beautiful,” the NFL announced Tuesday.
Guyton recently earned a Grammy nomination for best country album for her debut release, “Remember Her Name,” the first for a Black artist, plus nominations for best country song and best country solo performance.
“Look at God. I am shook, I am grateful, I am praise dancing... So excited to be singing the national anthem at #SBLVI on February 13th!” she tweeted Tuesday morning.
Guyton also performed on the virtual special that filled in when the 2021 Rose Parade was canceled.
Aiko's 2020 album “Chilombo” earned a Grammy nomination for album of the year. The singer/songwriter is known for experimenting with a range of styles — from psychedelic to classic R&B to incorporating sound healing and the use of sound bowls in her music — and has collaborated with Drake, Childish Gambino, John Legend, Summer Walker, Big Sean, Saweetie and others.
Actress Sandra Mae Frank will perform the national anthem and “America the Beautiful” in sign language on behalf of the National Association of the Deaf.
Pregame festivities will include the contemporary gospel duo Mary Mary, accompanied by the L.A. Philharmonic's YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” conducted by Thomas Wilkins, principal conductor of the L.A. Phil's Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
In honor of the Air Force's 75th anniversary year, the service will conduct a first-of-its-kind flyover over SoFi Stadium during the national anthem. The Air Force Heritage Flight will be a formation of a P-51 Mustang, A-10C Thunderbolt II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor and a F-35A Lightning II.
DJ and producer Zedd will act as the official pregame DJ during player warm-ups.
The NFL previously announced that Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg will represent Southern California during the Super Bowl LVI halftime show.
Lamar and Dre grew up in Compton and Snoop is from Long Beach. They will be joined on the halftime stage by Eminem and Mary J. Blige, making this the biggest display of hiphop talent at the halftime show in history.
The Rams will play the Cincinnati Bengals in the game, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.