Jennifer Hudson to Sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIII on NBC

NEW YORK, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Multi-Grammy nominated sensation JENNIFER HUDSON will sing the National Anthem as part of Super Bowl XLIII pregame festivities at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on Sunday, February 1, the NFL and NBC announced today.

Academy Award winner Hudson and her RIAA-certified Gold self-titled debut album received four Grammy Award nominations for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. Hudson's eponymous debut album entered at #2 on Billboard's Top 200 and marked the biggest first week sales for a debut R&B female since 2004. Her smash hit single "Spotlight" is now being followed by the beautiful mid-tempo "If This Isn't Love."

More than 148 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year's Super Bowl, the most-watched television program in history. The pregame show and Super Bowl XLIII will be broadcast worldwide in more than 230 countries and territories.

Hudson is among many great performers who have been honored with singing the Super Bowl National Anthem including: Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond, Whitney Houston (Super Bowl XXV in Tampa Bay), Harry Connick, Jr., Garth Brooks, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams, Luther Vandross, Jewel, Cher, Faith Hill, the Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey, Dixie Chicks, Beyonce Knowles and many more.

It was previously announced that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform in the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show.

The pregame and halftime shows are an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION and will be executive produced by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of WHITE CHERRY ENTERTAINMENT and by DON MISCHER PRODUCTIONS.

SOURCE National Football League