Jordin to sing anthem at Super Bowl XLII

Yay Jordin!!

Scott Wong
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 14, 2007 12:00 AM
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks will get the rare opportunity to sing the national anthem in her hometown minutes before the kickoff to Super Bowl XLII, The Arizona Republic has learned.

During planning meetings in Phoenix this week, NFL officials confirmed that Sparks, who hails from Glendale and won Season Six of the popular Fox reality-TV competition this year, has been tapped to sing The Star Spangled Banner before the Feb. 3 game, according to sources who attended the meetings.

The sources asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the meetings. An NFL spokesman declined to comment.
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Last week's announcement that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will play the Super Bowl halftime show was largely unexpected. But speculation had been mounting for months that Sparks would have a role in game-day entertainment.

After all, her hometown is hosting its first Super Bowl, she is the daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks, and American Idol network Fox will be broadcasting the sporting spectacle to millions of living rooms around the country.

In a Super Bowl first, Idol host Ryan Seacrest will be conducting red-carpet interviews as celebrity guests arrive at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Sparks will join a talented group of vocalists who have sung the anthem at the Super Bowl. They include Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston and Billy Joel. Music industry experts say the international exposure that accompanies such a performance could boost the career of Sparks, who turns 18 Dec. 22.

News of her selection comes weeks after Sparks released her self-titled debut album, which was preceded by the single Tattoo. The Super Bowl appearance will help keep momentum from those releases going.

"You have to move beyond Idol," said Jeff Fenster of the Zomba Label Group, which released Sparks' CD. "It's a great launching pad, but you have to establish the artist as an artist in their own right."

This latest influx of publicity is no doubt welcomed by Sparks, who is expected to do a concert tour in 2008. Her album debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, the weakest opening ever by an Idol winner.

Since first appearing on Idol, Sparks hasn't forgotten about her roots. In May, she returned for a homecoming show at Westgate City Center. Sparks and other show contestants dropped by Jobing.com Arena in July as part of their American Idol Tour. And last month, Sparks teamed up with Mayor Elaine Scruggs to flip on the switch to Glendale Glitters Spectacular, the city's annual holiday-lights celebration.



Idol' Jordin Sparks to sing anthem at Super Bowl XLII

Scott Wong
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 14, 2007 12:00 AM
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks will get the rare opportunity to sing the national anthem in her hometown minutes before the kickoff to Super Bowl XLII, The Arizona Republic has learned.

During planning meetings in Phoenix this week, NFL officials confirmed that Sparks, who hails from Glendale and won Season Six of the popular Fox reality-TV competition this year, has been tapped to sing The Star Spangled Banner before the Feb. 3 game, according to sources who attended the meetings.

The sources asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the meetings. An NFL spokesman declined to comment.

Last week's announcement that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will play the Super Bowl halftime show was largely unexpected. But speculation had been mounting for months that Sparks would have a role in game-day entertainment.

After all, her hometown is hosting its first Super Bowl, she is the daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks, and American Idol network Fox will be broadcasting the sporting spectacle to millions of living rooms around the country.

In a Super Bowl first, Idol host Ryan Seacrest will be conducting red-carpet interviews as celebrity guests arrive at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Sparks will join a talented group of vocalists who have sung the anthem at the Super Bowl. They include Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston and Billy Joel. Music industry experts say the international exposure that accompanies such a performance could boost the career of Sparks, who turns 18 Dec. 22.

News of her selection comes weeks after Sparks released her self-titled debut album, which was preceded by the single Tattoo. The Super Bowl appearance will help keep momentum from those releases going.

"You have to move beyond Idol," said Jeff Fenster of the Zomba Label Group, which released Sparks' CD. "It's a great launching pad, but you have to establish the artist as an artist in their own right."

This latest influx of publicity is no doubt welcomed by Sparks, who is expected to do a concert tour in 2008. Her album debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, the weakest opening ever by an Idol winner.

Since first appearing on Idol, Sparks hasn't forgotten about her roots. In May, she returned for a homecoming show at Westgate City Center. Sparks and other show contestants dropped by Jobing.com Arena in July as part of their American Idol Tour. And last month, Sparks teamed up with Mayor Elaine Scruggs to flip on the switch to Glendale Glitters Spectacular, the city's annual holiday-lights celebration.



Staff writer Larry Rodgers contributed to this article.Idol' Jordin Sparks to sing anthem at Super Bowl XLII

Scott Wong
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 14, 2007 12:00 AM
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks will get the rare opportunity to sing the national anthem in her hometown minutes before the kickoff to Super Bowl XLII, The Arizona Republic has learned.

During planning meetings in Phoenix this week, NFL officials confirmed that Sparks, who hails from Glendale and won Season Six of the popular Fox reality-TV competition this year, has been tapped to sing The Star Spangled Banner before the Feb. 3 game, according to sources who attended the meetings.

The sources asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the meetings. An NFL spokesman declined to comment.
advertisement


Last week's announcement that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will play the Super Bowl halftime show was largely unexpected. But speculation had been mounting for months that Sparks would have a role in game-day entertainment.

After all, her hometown is hosting its first Super Bowl, she is the daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks, and American Idol network Fox will be broadcasting the sporting spectacle to millions of living rooms around the country.

In a Super Bowl first, Idol host Ryan Seacrest will be conducting red-carpet interviews as celebrity guests arrive at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Sparks will join a talented group of vocalists who have sung the anthem at the Super Bowl. They include Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston and Billy Joel. Music industry experts say the international exposure that accompanies such a performance could boost the career of Sparks, who turns 18 Dec. 22.

News of her selection comes weeks after Sparks released her self-titled debut album, which was preceded by the single Tattoo. The Super Bowl appearance will help keep momentum from those releases going.

"You have to move beyond Idol," said Jeff Fenster of the Zomba Label Group, which released Sparks' CD. "It's a great launching pad, but you have to establish the artist as an artist in their own right."

This latest influx of publicity is no doubt welcomed by Sparks, who is expected to do a concert tour in 2008. Her album debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, the weakest opening ever by an Idol winner.

Since first appearing on Idol, Sparks hasn't forgotten about her roots. In May, she returned for a homecoming show at Westgate City Center. Sparks and other show contestants dropped by Jobing.com Arena in July as part of their American Idol Tour. And last month, Sparks teamed up with Mayor Elaine Scruggs to flip on the switch to Glendale Glitters Spectacular, the city's annual holiday-lights celebration.

Staff writer Larry Rodgers contributed to this article.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1214jordin1214.html