The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration Kicks Off Super Bowl XLVI Weekend With Fantasia and the NFL Players Choir, Taped Before a Live Audience

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 13th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, an NFL sanctioned event, comes to Indy during Super Bowl XLVI Weekend with an evening of inspiration with legendary NFL Pro Bowlers, Super Bowl Champions and MVPs together on one stage with Grammy Award-winning artists, A-list entertainers and special guests. The show will tape before a live audience on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University. Produced by Central City Productions, Inc., the telecast is scheduled to air as a one-hour program.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120117/CL36064 )

The multi-talented Wayne Brady, current host of the iconic CBS game show Let's Make A Deal, will host the event, with gospel's sweetheart, CeCe Winans, as co-host. American Idol winner Fantasia will headline the show -- which includes a duo with her mother Diane Barrino -- with performances by top gospel and contemporary Christian artists Natalie Grant, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker and "Players Choice" Wess Morgan, and Verizon's How Sweet the Sound 2011 Overall Winning Choir, Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir.  

The highlight of the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is the NFL Choir. Featuring current and former players, the choir has become one of the most anticipated performances during Super Bowl Weekend. Celebrating its five-year anniversary, the NFL Choir made its debut at the 2008 show with more than 40 members, including Ray Lewis and Bryant McKinnie (Ravens), under the direction of McClurkin, who will reprise his role this year joined by Myron Butler. The Choir was formed by several Christian NFL players who wanted to share their faith through their musical talents in song and instrument. The group offers fans an opportunity to see a very personal side of the players, as they make a joyful noise. The NFL Players Choir will sing a gospel favorite with Fantasia.

This year's event will feature faith inspired video vignettes by several current and former NFL players including Ray Lewis and Ray Rice (Ravens); Hines Ward and LaMarr Woodley (Steelers);  Derrick Brooks (retired Buccaneer); and former NFL Coach, Tony Dungy to name a few.  To-date, NFL players scheduled to participate in this year's show include Donald Driver (Green Bay), Dwight Freeney (Colts), Antwaan Randle El (free agent/Steelers), Benjamin Watson (Browns), Tim Brown (retired Raiders), Ray Buchanan (retired Colts/Falcons), Dextor Clinkscale (retired Dallas), Darrell Green (retired Redskins) and many more.

Prior to the event, guests can watch talent and players walk the Red Carpet hosted by Indianapolis' on-air personality, First Lady Khris Raye of WTLC, and Leonard Weaver (free agent/Eagles), followed by a pre-show with a soon-to-be-named artist, all beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster locations in Indianapolis and www.ticketmaster.com or you can buy tickets directly from your mobile phone by logging onto www.superbowlgospel.com.  Prices are $99, $79, $59, and $39 (additional service fees and taxes apply).

Since its inception in 1999, the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration has donated a portion of its proceeds and more than 5,000 tickets to local and national charities. This year, Gary Brackett's IMPACT Foundation has been selected as the local charitable partner.

Founded by Melanie Few-Harrison, president of Results Marketing & Media, Inc., The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration was launched in Miami in 1999 during Super Bowl XXXIII weekend.  In 2002, the event became the first, and remains the only, gospel event sanctioned by the NFL. The show has drawn crowds in the thousands and has demonstrated growth year-after-year, selling out venues in major Super Bowl host cities including Dallas, Tampa, Detroit, Jacksonville, Houston and Phoenix.

The 13th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is sponsored by American Family Insurance, the nation's third-largest mutual property/casualty insurance company; and Verizon Wireless, the official wireless service of the NFL.

For more information on the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration visit www.superbowlgospel.com. "LIKE" the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration at www.facebook.com/SuperBowlGospel or follow on Twitter, and find out about Twitter Parties with giveaways, at www.twitter.com/SuperBowlGospel. Media can secure press credentials on the website by clicking the Press tab.

SOURCE Super Bowl Gospel Celebration