“Abbott Elementary” star and Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph is officially booked as part of Super Bowl LVII’s pregame entertainment.
Singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the multihyphenate performer will be joined on the program by country star Chris Stapleton singing the national anthem and singer, songwriter and producer Babyface singing “America the Beautiful.”
READ: Kiersey Clemons, Sheryl Lee Ralph and More Cast in Tayarisha Poe’s The Young Wife
Troy Kotsur, who won an Oscar for his performance in CODA, will perform the national anthem in American Sign Language. Colin Denny, a member of the Navajo Nation in Arizona, will sign “America the Beautiful” and Justin Miles will sign “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and also during the halftime show.
Also as part of the pregame show, the U.S. Navy will conduct a flyover of Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium during the national anthem to commemorate 50 years of women flying in the service.
It was previously announced that Rihanna will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show. The show will be produced by DPS, with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins serving as executive producers. Hamish Hamilton will serve as the director.
The 2023 Super Bowl will air on Fox Sunday, Feb. 12.
READ: Onyx Collective Picks Ups Gabourey Sidibe’s Based on a True Story Phone Sex Comedy 1266
In addition to earning an Emmy for her performance as the devoted, veteran elementary school teacher Barbara Howard on “Abbott Elementary,” Ralph is also a Golden Globe nominee and Critics Choice winner. The ABC sitcom from Quinta Brunson brought the performer back into the spotlight after three decades of work across mediums – and the Super Bowl is hardly the first time she’s put her singing to good use. Ralph is also renowned for originating the role of Deena Jones on Broadway in “Dreamgirls.”
Ralph memorably made headlines at last year’s Emmy Awards when, while accepting the trophy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, she belted out an impromptu rendition of Dianne Reeves’ 1994 song “Endangered Species.”