Why Mickey Guyton is an ideal choice for the national anthem

Gone are the days when marching bands played the national anthem at the NFL’s quintessential Super Bowl. The first AFL-NFL championship game, in 1967, featured The Pride of Arizona, the Michigan Marching Band and the UCLA choir to present “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Since then, only stars have sung it. Neil Diamond sang it in 1987, Luther Vandross in 1997, the Backstreet Boys in 2001 and Lady Gaga in 2016. By far, the most memorable rendition was delivered by Whitney Houston in 1991.

But as University of Michigan musicologist Mark Clague points out, the singing of the national anthem at football games is more than a venue for celebrity singers. It began as a patriotic marketing ploy during World War II. Over time, the anthem has triggered protests, none of which could stop the tradition. And for Mickey Guyton, the Black country singer who will belt out the song at this year’s Super Bowl, it’s a moment of a lifetime.

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