Vallejo star H.E.R. set for Super Bowl
Vallejo’s own H.E.R. will perform at Super Bowl LV.
The Grammy-winning R&B artist, whose real name is Gabriella Wilson, has been chosen to sing “America the Beautiful” before the big game on Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, the NFL announced on Tuesday.
The outstanding Bay Area vocalist — known for such hits as “Focus,” “Best Part,” “Could’ve Been” and, best of all all, “Hard Place” — will appear during the pregame festivities, which will also include country superstar Eric Church and R&B talent Jazmine Sullivan joining forces on the national anthem.
The Church and Sullivan pairing will mark only the second time that there has been a duet on the national anthem in Super Bowl history. The first occasion came at the 2006 game in Detroit, where the legendary Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville teamed up — with Dr. John on piano accompaniment — on “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
H.E.R., whose platinum-selling debut was released in 2017, will join an amazing lineup of artists who have sung “America the Beautiful” at the Super Bowl.
The list includes Yolanda Adams, Leslie Odom Jr, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo, Jasmine Cephas Jones and Alicia Keys. Church and Sullivan are following in the footsteps of such performers as Demi Lovato, Gladys Knight, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Luke Bryan, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Jennifer Hudson, Billy Joel, Pink, Jordin Sparks, Idina Menzel, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys and Neil Diamond.
H.E.R.’s most recent fulllength album is 2019’s “I Used to Know Her,” while Church’s last album was 2018’s “Desperate Man.” Sullivan, however, does have a brand-new effort — “Heaux Tales” — which hit No. 4 on the Billboard 200 after being released earlier this month.
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The red-hot Canadian R&B star, who was born Abel Tesfaye, is known for such hits as “Often,” “Die for You,” “Starboy,” “I Feel It Coming” and “Blinding Lights.”