By: Carly Stapelman

Before any sporting event begins in the United States, it is a tradition to show respect to the flag through a performance of the National Anthem. The Super Bowl is the biggest football game of the year, so the invitation to sing the National Anthem is an honor.

At the very first Super Bowl, the University of Arizona and the University of Michigan Marching Bands were chosen for the opening performance. Since then, many celebrities, such as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, and Idina Menzel have performed the National Anthem for the big game.

This performance is a very important job for these performers to fulfill. They have a lot of pressure on them. Mental preparation can help them to react in a positive way to their nerves.

“I always get nervous for a performance,” said Idina Menzel last year in a Fox Sports interview.

Accepting the call to perform is exciting for these people but it is also scary. The performers must have a lot of courage in order to do this.

“That adrenaline, you know, you need to be feeling it in the moment,” said Menzel.

As the years continue, the pressure is on for future performers to achieve this honor. Will this year’s chosen one be as good as the rest?

Coldplay Joined by Beyonce and Bruno Mars for 2016 Super Bowl Half-time

Kaoura Harper

The playoffs are over and it’s time to get down to business. The Denver Broncos are playing the Carolina Panthers on February 7 in Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara, California.

It’s the golden anniversary and everyone is talking about this event. This year, for the 50th Super Bowl, fans will enjoy performances from Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars.

This is Coldplay’s first halftime show and they have some big shoes to fill. Beyonce and Bruno Mars have already had their time in the spotlight, but now it’s Coldplay’s turn.

Beyonce performed for the 2013 game and had three million more people watch halftime than the actual game. Bruno Mars performed in 2014 and had 115.3 million views.

The heat might be taken away from Coldplay, as they are joined with two other stars. Beyonce and Coldplay just finished an album called A Head Full of Dreams. Coldplay is supposedly going to perform “Adventure of a Lifetime” and possibly a duet called “Hymn on the Weekend” with Beyonce. Bruno Mars has yet to announce what he will perform but we can expect his top songs will be performed..

The Golden Anniversary has come and so has Coldplay’s time to shine! Hopefully, Beyonce and Bruno Mars don’t take away their spotlight.