Super Bowl 2015: Idina Menzel, John Legend To Perform, Katy Perry Teases Half-Time Surprises
The entertainment at Super Bowl 2015 may just end up overshadowing the game — Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz in the half-time show, the always anticipated commercials, and now USA Today reports that the NFL has announced Perry will be joined by two more big voices performing pre-game.
Broadway star Idina Menzel will sing the national anthem at the February 1 big game at Phoenix Stadium, and John Legend will be performing “America the Beautiful.”
Menzel had a fantastic year in 2014 as the voice behind the super hit “Let it Go” from Disney’s blockbuster movie, Frozen. She is also the Tony-nominated star of the Broadway musical If/Then, which closes March 22 after a successful run.
Idina joins such pop megastars as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Beyonce in opening the Super Bowl game, but she has some big shoes to fill this year. Menzel has inherited the daunting task of following Renee Flemming’s spectacular performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at last year’s Super Bowl. According to the Washington Post, the opera diva’s simple, classic performance of the national anthem was hailed by many as the best rendition ever.
Legend also had a career-defining year in 2014, with his song “All of Me” ranking as one of the top hits of the year. He also earned a Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination for his collaboration with rapper Common on the song “Glory” from the movie Selma.
Legend has some big shoes to fill as well. He is following Queen Latifah, who did a terrific job of belting out “America the Beautiful” at last year’s Super Bowl. In the past, the song has been performed by music greats such as Ray Charles and Jennifer Hudson.
Katy Perry — who, according to the Inquistr, said that her female empowerment anthems are “perfect” for this year’s Super Bowl performance — has some big plans for the half-time show. Perry announced last week that Lenny Kravitz, who she described as “an incredible rock-n-roll icon, a guitar god,” will be joining her as a special guest. She has also hinted there are some surprises in store, and rumors are circulating that Kravitz won’t be the only performer to share the stage with the “Firework” singer.
“I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve,” Perry told Entertainment Tonight. “But I can’t tell you everything. I’m gonna let people just think about it.”
When pressed by the ET interviewer, who suggested Perry’s friend Rihanna might be the surprise entertainer, Katy wouldn’t give up a name.
“Let’s just say female empowerment,” she said.
“I think the speculation is very fun,” Perry said. “I don’t usually like speculation but I’m like, ‘Hey, it’s like bringing everybody into the conversation and you know, on Feb. 1 you’ll see what’s actually going to go down.”
What is your favorite part of the Super Bowl — the game, the commercials, or the entertainment?
[Image via Today]
