Super Bowl Soulful Celebration Comes to Arizona
By NaTyshca Pickett
The host of this year's Super Bowl Soulful Celebration: An Evening of Inspiration and Culture (formerly Super Bowl Gospel Celebration) will be radio host, actor, and activist Willie Moore, Jr. from REACH Media. Kierra Sheard-Kelly and Tye Tribbett, two of the best Gospel singers in the world, will also be on this year's show. The legendary Patti LaBelle, Israel Houghton, and The Players Choir, celebrating their 15th anniversary in the same city where they played their first show as a group back in 2008, have already been announced as performers.
“It’s an honor to host this event this year and join the ranks of Rickey Smiley, Sarah Jakes Roberts, DC Young Fly, and so many other hosts. This is a staple in our community featuring many amazing artists and it’s just the biggest moment in time, ” Moore stated.
Pattie LaBelle, one of the featured performers for the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration.
Since 1999, this has been the only event that gives the players a chance to celebrate their faith, their families, and football on the biggest weekend in sports.
Melanie Few is the only woman and person of color who puts on an NFL-approved event during Super Bowl week. She is in charge of the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration.
“This year we celebrate 24 years of celebrating this event and it has been such an amazing journey. God has allowed us to do some phenomenal things, with us being the first faith-based show on ESPN as well as a nine-year run on BET. ” Few said. As they “ramp up” for their 25th anniversary, Few stated that the best is still to come. “It feels like a dream because this was just an idea, who would have known that we would have stood the test of time, I’m just so grateful,” Few stated.
The Players Choir
Super Bowl LVII hopeful and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will be honored with the "Faith In Action" award at the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration this year. Current and former NFL players are honored for their positive off-field contributions to their communities and the lives of others.
Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders, Tim Brown, Russell Wilson, Tony Dungy, and Troy Vincent were among others previously honored.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts
In the past, performers like Yolanda Adams, CeeLo Green, Chloe Bailey, Kirk Franklin, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Erica Campbell, Gladys Knight, Fantasia, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans, and Anthony Hamilton have been featured on the show.
The "Unstoppable"-themed night of music, comedy, NFL players, and soulful inspiration kicks off Super Bowl LVII week on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona. It is the only multicultural program and community event the NFL approved during Super Bowl weekend.
Buy your tickets today at superbowlsoulfulcelebration.com.
Follow the conversation online using the hashtags #SuperBowlSoulfulCelebration and #Unstoppable, and feel free to join in the revelry.