Frozen star Idina Menzel will sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl XLIX, the NFL have confirmed. Along with Menzel’s performance, John Legend will sing “America The Beautiful” as part of pregame festivities at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona on Sunday, February 1. The performances will be televised live on NBC prior to kickoff.
More than 112.2 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year’s Super Bowl, the most-watched television program in history. The pregame show, including the National Anthem and “America The Beautiful,” and Super Bowl XLIX will be broadcast worldwide. The NFL previously announced that Katy Perry will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show.
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Menzel, best known for her soaring vocal work in the smash Disney film Frozen, will make her Super Bowl debut this February. She joins a long list of great performers who have been honored with singing the Super Bowl National Anthem including: Renée Fleming, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston, Harry Connick, Jr., Garth Brooks, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams, Luther Vandross, Cher, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, Dixie Chicks, Beyoncé Knowles, Christina Aguilera and many more.
Menzel faced criticism for her New Year’s Eve performance of the signature Frozen song “Let It Go,” in which she missed a key note in the voice-straining track. She responded to the ridicule with class and poise, but is undoubtedly looking to create a new impression with the National Anthem – no easy vocal task in itself – at the Super Bowl.
In addition, actress Treshelle Edmond will perform in American Sign Language the National Anthem and “America The Beautiful.”
