Renee Fleming Announced For Super Bowl 2014: A Look Back On Some Of The Great Anthem Singers Through The Years
Opera soprano Renee Fleming has been announced to sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Feb. 2. Fleming’s appointment is a pretty big deal, considering that the Super Bowl is easily the most watched television event of the year in the US. Last year, 111 million people nationwide tuned into the game, the infamous Super Bowl ads and, of course, the half time show. Fleming is also a bit of an unusual choice, given that the anthem has been performed by mainstream pop stars every year for the past decade.
Some of the performances have been stunning and unforgettable, like Aretha Franklin’s 2006 rendition, while others, like Christina Aguilera’s 2011 blunder might be better left forgotten. Hopefully, this year’s anthem performance will have patriots in tears (the good kind), but if not, there are always these historical renditions to look back on fondly.
Click through to the next page for a list of some of the most memorable Super Bowl anthem singers.
In 2009, the heavy task was assigned to singing sensation du jour, Jennifer Hudson. Three years after she made a name as an actress in Dreamgirls and five years after she first rose to fame in American Idol, Hudson proved she still had it (“it” in this case being vocal chords of steel) with one of the most emotional renditions of the anthem to date.
The reigning king of country, Garth Brooks, had the honor in 1993. He gave the Star-Spangled Banner an unmistakable country twist, which could have been grating coming from any other performer. Brooks, however, has both the talent and the charisma to pull it off and make his version memorable enough.
In 2006, the Star-Spangled Banner was performed by Aretha Franklin, sharing verses with Neville Brothers vocalist Aaron Neville and New Orleans native, Dr. John. The performance was a tribute to New Orleans and its citizens, who were just recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The jazz-themed anthem was a perfect tribute to the city and went down as one of the best in Super Bowl history.
We really couldn’t talk about the Super Bowl without mentioning Beyonce. These days, Mrs Carter’s Super Bowl cred mostly revolves around her half time show last year. There were insanely choreographed routines, a massive fan tribute, a spectacular light show and, to top it all off – the Destiny’s Child reunion fans have been anticipating for years now. But Bey made her very first Super Bowl appearance back in the distant 2004, when she performed the anthem as a young’un. Beyonce’s rendition got the full symphonic treatment, with an ensemble of woodwinds and brass. Far from the diva we know and love today, back then she gave a respectful, evocative performance.