Football Rocks! Part 2
The NFL ends each football season with the most viewed music show of the year during halftime of the Super Bowl. Now, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is kicking off the football season with the Concert for Legends featuring music superstar Tim McGraw. ProFootballHOF.com is taking a look at the history of music and its relationship with the NFL in this special “Football Rocks” series.
Part 1 - Super Bowl Halftime History | Part 2 - Female Super Bowl Performers | Part 3 - Celebs Love Football | Part 4 - Aerosmith and Football | Part 5 - Tim McGraw's Passion for the Game | Inaugural Concert for Legends Recap
By: Jason Rentner (@Jay25R)
Women have played an important role in the growth of the Super Bowl. Their dazzling pregame, National Anthem and halftime performances have entertained the world. Their vision, passion and power attracted new fans and kept audiences tuned in throughout the entirety of the game.
The first Super Bowl solo performer, male or female, was Anita Bryant who performed the National Anthem before Super Bowl III. She was Miss Oklahoma in 1959 and parlayed her runner-up finish in the Miss America pageant that year into a career as a singer and pitchwoman.
At the time of her Super Bowl act, Bryant was at the height of her career. She was touring with A-list celebrities such as Bob Hope in Vietnam, performing for President Lyndon Johnson at the White House and singing at both the Republican and Democratic conventions.
Bryant’s performance helped pave the way for other female artists.
A few years later the NFL invited Broadway and movie star Carol Channing along with Jazz great Ella Fitzgerald to perform during halftime of Super Bowl VI.
Female entertainers were becoming more and more prominent in the Super Bowl. Grammy Award winner Whitney Houston spoke to the nation with her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner before Super Bowl XXV. The United States had just entered the 1991 Gulf War and patriotism was at an all-time high. Her powerful performance moved the audience.
Other iconic artists such as Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé Knowles, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson and Madonna sang at the Super Bowl.
Click here to view a full list of Super Bowl performers>>>
Football Rocks! Part 3
Artists and performers of all varieties love the NFL and proudly show their allegiances with team gear, game day attendance and even ownership.
Football Rocks! Part 1
Super Bowl halftime shows didn’t always have pop star flash and pyrotechnics. Like the popularity of football, the entertainment has evolved over the years. Here’s a full list of every performance.