Knight Brings Old World Grace, Class To Super Bowl Performance
Welp, it’s official: the Empress of Soul had the greatest Super Bowl National Anthem performance of all time.
Period, point blank.
Despite the controversy swirling around this year’s Super Bowl, grace and class reigned supreme as Empress of Soul Gladys Knight made a special appearance before the start of the game to deliver the National Anthem, the latest in a long line of esteemed performers that includes Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and last year’s powerhouse, P!nk.
Ms. Knight, 74 and an Atlanta native, seemingly floated down onto the field decked out in a white dress with sparkly details and a pair of sparkly ankle boots, looking for all the world like America’s fairy godmother here to remind us all to be on our best behavior – for ourselves and for each other.
Joined by members of the United States military and acclaimed performance artist and deaf activist Aarron Loggins, who graciously signed the anthem in honor of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Ms. Knight delivered one of the most classic, powerful renditions of the National Anthem in recent memory, bringing to it the kind of grace and elegance it deserves – and bringing more than a few viewers to tears, while she was at it.
Thank you for allowing me this moment to honor our great nation! #SBLlll ❤️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VWRC2eOpW2
— Gladys Knight (@MsGladysKnight) February 4, 2019
After her performance, Ms. Knight took to Twitter where she graciously thanked the NFL for “allowing me this moment to honor our great nation!”. Fans also took to Twitter, where they hailed her performance and wondered why the rest of the Super Bowl couldn’t have been as unforgettable as Ms. Knight’s performance of the National Anthem:
Super Bowl MVP was Gladys Knight
— Pulmonaria (@DiraitDiraitOn) February 4, 2019
Beauty. Elegance. Grace. That voice? #GladysKnight was the true #SBLIII MVP. pic.twitter.com/Cm7XYvEESd
— Tim Andrews (@TimAndrewsHere) February 4, 2019
What a beautiful sight folks, the “Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight opens the #SuperBowl with the National Anthem.
The best thing I’ve seen today folks😊pic.twitter.com/KH2SMiCNuE
— IT’S TIME FOR JUSTICE (@LiddleSavages) February 4, 2019
AMAZING job by Gladys Knight singing the Star Spangled Banner! Pure class and an unbelievable voice.
— Sean Larkin (@Sean_C_Larkin) February 3, 2019
After last night’s incredible performance, I think it goes without saying: NFL, 2020 might call for a halftime show done by Gladys Knight and the Pips.
“Midnight Train to Georgia,” anyone?