Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan team up and deliver bluesy performance of National Anthem at Super Bowl LV
For the first time in 15-years, the National Anthem before the Super Bowl was a collaborative effort.
Country star Eric Church and R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan teamed up for The Star-Spangled Banner, moments before the kickoff for Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Sunday.
And the duo put a unique spin on the national anthem of the United States: trading lines by themselves, before singing in unison. all while offering a smooth and bluesy rendition.
Duet: Country star Eric Church and R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan teamed up to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida on Sunday
Church, a North Carolina native, kicked things off by breaking into a twangy but smooth guitar riff.
Dressed to impress in a purple and black with dark sunglasses, the Grammy-nominated star then proceeded to sing the opening lines by himself.
Sullivan, a Grammy-nominated R&B artist, joined in for the third line: ‘Whose broad stripes and bright stars.’
Their vocals would eventually come together for some beautiful harmonies when the song reached the emphatic phrase: ‘And the rockets’ red glare,’ as fireworks erupted in the skies above the stadium.
Bluesy: Church kicked things off by breaking into a twangy but smooth guitar riff.
Powerful: Sullivan joined in for the third line: ‘Whose broad stripes and bright stars’
As the dynamics of the song were brought up another notch, Sullivan’s emotional delivery gave the song a gospel quality to it.
After trading lead and backing vocals, the pair doubled up their vocals for the spirited ending, as more fireworks burst out into the sky.
Sullivan, whose acclaimed 2008 debut album Fearless has been certified Gold, was humbled to be joining the list of artists to perform at the Super Bowl.
Their vocals would eventually come together for a beautiful harmony when the song reached the emphatic phrase: ‘And the rockets’ red glare’
Red glare: As the duo sang in harmony, fireworks erupted in the skies above the stadium
‘Honestly, I’ll be the first to say I’ve played myself small all my life. So I never even dreamt of performing at the Super Bowl. I always looked at that as a moment for someone who had a career that was bigger than mine.’ the Pennsylvania native, 33, told Glamour.
‘So I’m just super grateful, in shock, and excited to share this moment with my loved ones who have seen me go through all the things I have in my life.’
The last time The Star-Spangled Banner was a collaborative affair at the Super Bowl happened back in 2006, when Dr. John, Aaron Neville and Aretha Franklin joined forces for Super Bowl LV in Detroit, Michigan.
Some of the other artists to sing the song at the Super Bowl in recent years includes: Lady Gaga, Pink, Demi Lovato, Gladys Knight and Luke Bryan, according to Rolling Stone.
Worth it: The performance was the first collaborative effort at the Super Bowl since 2006