(Jan. 22, 2007) ?Grammy-award winning performer Billy Joel will sing the national anthem during the Super Bowl XLI pregame show on CBS at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida on Sunday, Feb. 4, the NFL announced. Joel becomes the first performer to sing the national anthem twice in the Super Bowl.
Joel, who has won six Grammys and been nominated for 23 total, is one of the world's most- popular recording artists. His extensive list of accomplishments includes selling more than 100 million records, 33 Top 40 hits. He was awarded the Grammy Legend Award (1991), inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1992) and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1999).
Joel's other Super Bowl performance was also in South Florida, prior to Super Bowl XXIII in 1989.
Super Bowl XL was watched by more than 141 million viewers in the U.S. last year. It is annually the nation's highest-rated TV program and the most-watched single-day sporting event. The game will be broadcast to a potential worldwide audience of 1 billion in more than 230 countries and territories.
Joel is among many great performers who have been honored with singing the Super Bowl national anthem including: Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston, Harry Connick, Jr., Garth Brooks, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams, Luther Vandross, Jewel, Cher, Faith Hill, the Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey, Dixie Chicks, Beyonc?Knowles and many more.
Super Bowl National Anthem Honor Roll
Game Date Performer(s) I Jan. 15, 1967 Universities of Arizona & Michigan Bands
II Jan. 14, 1968 Grambling University Band
III Jan. 12, 1969 Anita Bryant Pledge of Allegiance by Apollo Astronauts
IV Jan. 11, 1970 Al Hirt Pledge of Allegiance by Astronauts
V Jan. 17, 1971 Tommy Loy (trumpeter)
VI Jan. 16, 1972 U.S. Air Force Academy Chorale
VII Jan. 14, 1973 Andy Williams & Little Angels of Holy Angels Church (Chicago) Pledge of Allegiance by Apollo 17 crew
VIII Jan. 13, 1974 Charlie Pride
IX Jan. 12, 1975 Grambling University Band with Mardi Gras Chorus
X Jan. 18, 1976 Tom Sullivan
XI Jan. 9, 1977 Vicki Carr (America the Beautiful)
XII Jan. 15, 1978 Phyllis Kelly of NE Louisiana State University
XIII Jan. 21, 1979 The Colgate Thirteen
XIV Jan. 20, 1980 Cheryl Ladd; Golden Knights Parachute Team
XV Jan. 25, 1981 Helen O'Connell
XVI Jan. 24, 1982 Diana Ross
XVII Jan. 30, 1983 Leslie Esterbrook
XVIII Jan. 22, 1984 Barry Manilow
XIX Jan. 20, 1985 Children's Choir of San Francisco
XX Jan. 26, 1986 Wynton Marsalis
XXI Jan. 25, 1987 Neil Diamond
XXII Jan. 31, 1988 Herb Alpert
XXIII Jan. 22, 1989 Billy Joel
XXIV Jan. 28, 1990 Aaron Neville
XXV Jan. 27, 1991 Whitney Houston
XXVI Jan. 26, 1992 Harry Connick, Jr. (American Sign Language performance by Lori Hilary)
XXVII Jan. 31, 1993 Garth Brooks (American Sign Language performance by Marlee Matlin)
XXVIII Jan. 30, 1994 Natalie Cole with Atlanta University Center Chorus (American Sign Language performance by Falcons' cheerleaderCourtney Keel Foley)
XXIX Jan. 29, 1995 Kathie Lee Gifford (American Sign Language performance by Heather Whitestone)
XXX Jan. 28, 1996 Vanessa Williams (American Sign Language performance by Mary Kim Titla)
XXXI Jan. 26, 1997 Luther Vandross (American Sign Language performance by Erika Schwarz)
XXXII Jan. 25, 1998 Jewel (American Sign Language performance by Phyllis Frelich)
XXXIII Jan. 31, 1999 Cher (American Sign Language performance by Speaking Hands)
XXXIV Jan. 30, 2000 Faith Hill (American Sign Language performance by Briarlake Elementary School Signing Choir)
XXXV Jan. 28, 2001 Backstreet Boys (American Sign Language performance by Tom Cooney) "America The Beautiful" performed by Ray Charles
XXXVI Feb. 3, 2002 Mariah Carey accompanied by the Boston Pops (American Sign Language performance by Joe Narcisse)
XXXVII Jan. 26, 2003 Dixie Chicks (American Sign Language performance by Janet Maxwell)
XXXVIII Feb. 1, 2004 Beyonce Knowles (American Sign Language performance by Suzanna Christy)
XXXIX Feb. 6, 2005 U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chorale, U.S. Coast Guard Academy Glee Club, U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club and U.S. Military Academy at West Point Glee Club (American Sign Language performance by Wesley Tallent)
XL Feb. 5, 2006 Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville accompanied by pianist Dr. John