Over the past two years, Hamilton has swept into the zeitgeist as an unescapable piece of pop culture, imagining an early America where duels and rap battles were interchangeable pieces of the political landscape. The NFL, the sports monolith that still regularly relies on the music of Bon Jovi and Styx to reach out to fans, has finally taken notice.
Super Bowl 52 pregame show: Time, live TV schedule, and performers for Sunday
Pink, Leslie Odom Jr., and, uh, Dale Earnhardt Jr. kick off 2018’s Super Bowl coverage.
Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images
The league will turn to Broadway star Leslie Odom Jr. to sing this year’s rendition of “America the Beautiful” in advance of Super Bowl 52 between the Patriots and Eagles, which will be broadcast live on NBC (live stream). Odom is an accomplished actor and singer, having won a Tony Award for best actor in a musical and a Grammy Award for best musical theater album for his work in Hamilton.
He won’t be the only star to give the big game the gravity it deserves. Odom will give way for three-time Grammy Award winner Pink, who will captivate Americans and bettors alike with her rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The pregame show will also mark the first day of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s new career. The accomplished NASCAR driver retired from the sport last year at the age of 43, thanks in part to a history of concussions sustained behind the wheel. He’s joining NBC’s broadcast team, and he’ll be part of the crew breaking down Sunday’s football action despite his lengthy career as a race car driver.
Oddly enough, he’ll follow up Sunday’s assignment with a trip to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the Winter Olympics — another major event that features zero auto racing.
“I’m excited to get to work with my new NBC family,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Beginning with two huge events like the Super Bowl and Olympics, right out of the gate, should be quite the introduction. I’m looking forward to raising the profile of NASCAR and all that we’re going to be doing during the 2018 season.”
That won’t be all you’ll hear about the Winter Olympics Sunday. NBC will pepper its coverage with 60-second profiles of American athletes in a synergistic show of brand-driven patriotism. The network will bring you the stories of medal hopefuls like Shaun White, Lindsey Vonn, Chloe Kim, and Nathan Chen throughout commercial breaks in preparation for next week’s Opening Ceremonies.
How to Watch
When: Sunday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Where: Minneapolis, Minn.
Commentators: Mike Tirico, Bob Costas, Liam McHugh, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Online: NFL on NBC, FuboTV
The first Super Bowl halftime show had jetpacks!
See More:
