espnW Blog: national anthem
Christopher Polk/Getty Images"The Star-Spangled Banner” was made the national anthem on this day in 1931, but it has been part of sporting events for much longer. Newspapers suggest that it was sung intermittently since the mid-1800s, and it gained national attention during the seventh-inning stretch of the 1918 World Series.
Chris Pizzello/AP PhotoAlicia Keys will be the sixth consecutive woman to kick off the Super Bowl singing the national anthem. Billy Joel was the last man to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl XLI in 2007. Since then, Jordin Sparks (daughter of former Cowboys Giants cornerback Phillippi Sparks Jennifer Hudson (wife of professional wrestler David Otunga), Carrie Underwood (wife of Nashville Predators forward Mike Fisher), Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson have serenaded the stadium.