Super Bowl XXXV National Anthem
Backstreet Boys to sing Super Bowl XXXV National Anthem; Ray Charles will perform "America the Beautiful" at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium.
New York, NY, December 14, 2000 - The NFL will celebrate America's 225th birthday in Super Bowl XXXV pre-game ceremonies as one of the world's top groups, Backstreet Boys, will perform the National Anthem and recording legend, Ray Charles, will sing "America The Beautiful," at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, January 28, 2001, the National Football League announced today.
It will mark the first time the two songs will be performed prior to the start of the game. Charles will open the ceremony and Backstreet Boys will follow with its rendition of the National Anthem. Tampa's Tom Cooney will sign the national anthem.
Rickey Minor, who produced the sound track of Whitney Houston's popular Super Bowl version 10 years ago in Tampa, will create the track for the Backstreet Boys rendition.
In addition to the musical performances, the Air Force will provide a B-2 that will circle the stadium throughout the first song. The Air Force's elite "Thunderbirds" will then fly over the stadium at the conclusion of the National Anthem. A joint services color guard will present the official flag, while members of the American All-Star Dance Team cover the field with other red, white and blue symbols. This will be American All-Star's 16th appearance in a Super Bowl.
"The Backstreet Boys and Ray Charles' popularity and great musical talents are recognized across the country and around the world," said NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. "We are pleased they will be part of our Super Bowl XXXV entertainment lineup."
CBS will televise Super Bowl XXXV live, including the national anthem. Game time is 6 p.m. ET.
Presently recognized as the biggest pop group in the world, Backstreet Boys have sold more than 55 million albums in less than three years. The group's new album and fourth release, Black & Blue, sold more than five million copies worldwide in its initial week, setting a new first-week record in international sales. Globally, Black & Blue - whose 13-song selection features five songs co-written by members of the group, plus two songs solely penned by all five Backstreet Boys - achieved platinum status in 22 countries and gold certification in 10 regions around the world during its first week of release.
At the same time, in the U.S., Backstreet Boys - Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson - set a precedent by becoming the first group in SoundScan History ever to achieve million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums. This follows 1999's Millennium album, which moved more than 1,134,000 copies in its opening week.
Backstreet Boys will add its name to the Super Bowl national anthem list that includes: Diana Ross; Barry Manilow; Neil Diamond; Billy Joel; Whitney Houston; Harry Connick, Jr.; Garth Brooks; Natalie Cole; Vanessa Williams; Luther Vandross; Jewel; Cher and last year's anthem singer, Faith Hill.
