The NFL’s pre-Super Bowl festivities will include a rendition of the Black national anthem for the third consecutive year. Even as the league had “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on the docket for weeks, the inclusion of the song stirred debate on social media.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, the star of the comedy series “Abbott Elementary,” will perform the song at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Country music star Chris Stapleton will sing the national anthem and R&B artist Babyface will sing “America the Beautiful.”
But it was the inclusion of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” that had NFL fans talking early Sunday.
Rihanna returns to stage at halftime show for Super Bowl 2023. Super Bowl 2023 halftime show headlined by Rihanna.
Rihanna opened Super Bowl 2023 with “B—h Better Have My Money.”
The musician levitated above the Super Bowl stage on hanging platforms along with background dancers. Rihanna was dressed in all red for her first live performance in seven years.
She flowed into “Where Have You Been” as she performed choreography with her backup dancers dressed in white.
Rihanna also belted “Only Girl,” “We Found Love,” “Rude Boy,” “Umbrella” and more.
At one point in the show, Rihanna took a moment to powder her nose with her makeup line Fenty Beauty.
I feel about the Black National Anthem being sung at the #SuperBowl the way I do about #Juneteenth being a federal holiday. That being said, @thesherylralph is going to sing her face off and I love it because I love her. #twothingscanbetrue!
— Karen Hunter (@karenhunter) February 12, 2023
The Barbadian singer closed out the show with “Diamonds.” She sang the ballad from a platform at the top of State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The NFL has become extremely racist. They should have remained neutral.