

Meanwhile, Aerosmith, Bruno Mars and Cardi B are set to perform during the three-day Super Bowl Music Fest. The event will also showcase DJ sets from the Roots’ Questlove. On Saturday, February 2nd, Rolling Stone hosts Rolling Stone Live: Atlanta at Goat Farm Arts Center, which features performances by Ludacris and Young Thug, as well as Gunna and Lil Keed. The iconic Empress of Soul kicked off Super Bowl 53 Sunday night with a breathtaking performance of the Star Spangled Banner at. Several other music events are scheduled leading up to the Big Game. In front of her hometown crowd, Gladys Knight was spectacular. Scott’s appearance was reportedly contingent on the NFL making a joint $500,000 charitable donation to Van Jones’ social justice organization, Dream Corps. Some controversy has surrounded this year’s Super Bowl performance lineup, with several artists boycotting events related to the game, including Rihanna and Cardi B turning down the halftime show in support of Colin Kaepernick. Knight joins Big Boi, who will perform during the halftime show alongside Maroon 5 and Travis Scott, in representing their hometown during the Super Bowl events. “The NFL recently announced their new social justice platform Inspire Change, and I am honored to be a part of its inaugural year.” The Inspire Change initiative is intended to highlight players, owners and the NFL’s collaborative efforts to “create positive change in communities across the country.” Gladys Knight was criticized following the announcement that shell be singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, but the backlash will not make her change her mind. “I am proud to use my voice to unite and represent our country and my hometown of Atlanta,” the songstress said in a statement.

Gladys Knight has been tapped to perform the National Anthem during the Super Bowl LIII pregame festivities on February 3rd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta, Georgia, the NFL announced.
#Gladys knight national anthem kaepernick full
Read Knight’s full statement via Variety.
#Gladys knight national anthem kaepernick free
She also tied in her longtime activism and called for unity: “I am here today and on Sunday, February 3rd to give the Anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good - I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country’s Anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII.” “It is unfortunate that our National Anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the National Anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone.” Kaepernick is protesting two things, and they are police violence and injustice,” Knight said in her statement to Variety. Copyright(c) 2019 : Gladys Knight has released a statement addressing her “stance on the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick,” Variety reports. Several A-list artists, including Rihanna, Adele, JAY-Z and Cardi B, reportedly rejected the invitation to perform at halftime to show their support with Kaepernick. “I pray that this National Anthem will bring us all together in a way never before witnessed and we can move forward and untangle these truths which mean so much to all of us.” Meanwhile, Maroon 5 have been tapped to play at halftime of this year’s Super Bowl along with rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi. 3 to give the Anthem back its voice,” she added. “It is unfortunate that our National Anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the National Anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone. Kaepernick is protesting two things, and they are police violence and injustice,” Knight wrote.

Knight was responding after Variety asked the “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer about her stance on the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who created controversy in 2016 after he started kneeling during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality in the U.S. Gladys gave a lengthy statement when asked her thoughts on the NFL’s treatment of former San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick, who was exiled from the NFL for his TakeAKnee movement, which saw him and several other players refuse to stand during the national anthem at games because of the protest against police brutality and racial injus. Facing some backlash after announcing plans to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, Gladys Knight defended her decision to perform in a statement to Variety. Motown legend Gladys Knight, known as the Empress of Soul, is sharing her stance on the NFLs treatment of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick after announcing she will be.
