Whether you’re a die-hard NFL fan or just looking to have some fun this weekend, there are plenty of events happening around the Valley. Some are free, while others will require tickets.
One of the most important events of Super Bowl weekend is the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest. The event runs from Thursday through Saturday and features a cross-genre lineup of performers.
Rihanna
Music icon Rihanna is set to take the stage for the first-ever Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show. The Barbados-born singer and entrepreneur is a pop megastar who’s sold over 200 million records and earned eight Grammy awards.
The 34-year-old pop star released a teaser for her upcoming performance last week, and it’s pretty exciting! The 30-second clip doesn’t give away too much, but we’re definitely eager to see her take the stage.
She’s a veteran of the industry, and she’ll be performing her biggest hits from throughout the years. Her recent hits include “SOS,” which is the lead single from her latest album Anti and has become a fan favorite, as well as “Don’t Stop the Music.”
Tim McGraw
Country music legend Tim McGraw is set to headline the NFL’s Tailgate Party on Super Bowl weekend, the official pre-game festivities that precede the big game. The event will air on CBS’ The Super Bowl Today.
Throughout his career, McGraw has won three Grammy Awards, 19 Academy of Country Music Awards and 14 Country Music Association Awards. He has also racked up 44 worldwide No. 1 singles and 19 albums.
He’s a true icon, and his Super Bowl performance is sure to be a hit. Not only does he perform his hits, but he brings the crowd to their feet with his reflective new single “Thought About You” alongside a version of “Neon Church.”
Chris Stapleton
Before the NFL’s top teams kick off Super Bowl LVII on February 12, country music star Chris Stapleton will honor America with a performance of the national anthem. The singer of “Starting Over” will join a list of previous country performers to take on the song.
The NFL revealed the full lineup of pregame entertainment Tuesday. It includes eight-time Grammy winner Stapleton, Oscar winner Troy Kotsur, R&B legend Babyface and Emmy-winning actor Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Stapleton will join other country artists Mickey Guyton, Jhene Aiko and gospel duo Mary Mary on this year’s list of Super Bowl anthem singers. He will also be joined by a flyover by the U.S. Navy to commemorate 50 years of women flying in the service.
Babyface
The NFL’s annual Super Bowl is one of the most-watched events of the year, and it’s also a great time to enjoy some football-themed music. This year’s show is full of music from a range of genres, and some of the biggest names in music will be performing.
In addition to Rihanna, Grammy-winning R&B singer Babyface will perform “America the Beautiful” before the game begins. Abbott Elementary actress Sheryl Lee Ralph will also perform, while country star Chris Stapleton will sing the National Anthem.
The event will air on Fox, but fans without cable can stream it online using a streaming service like Sling TV or YouTube TV. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will call the game, and Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will report from the sidelines.
Troy Kotsur
Mesa-born Troy Kotsur will make history when he performs the National Anthem in American Sign Language at Super Bowl 2023. The actor, who won an Oscar for his performance in CODA (2021), will sign on behalf of the National Association of the Deaf.
Kotsur, who won the Best Supporting Actor prize for his role in CODA, is only the second deaf actor to win an Oscar. His co-star Marlee Matlin won in 1986 for her role in Children of a Lesser God.
Kotsur won the Oscar for his performance in CODA, a film about a deaf man whose hearing daughter wants to sing. In the movie, CODA stands for ‘Children of Deaf Adults,’ meaning that the family lives and communicates in ASL, or American Sign Language, a form of spoken English code switching for the hearing world.