Who is Renee Fleming? Meet National Anthem singer for Super Bowl XLVIII

Tonight during the Super Bowl XLVIII broadcast, there is going to be something a little bit different as far as National Anthem singers go. Renee Fleming is set to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the big game, and she is the first opera singer to perform the Anthem for the big game.

The 54-year old opera singer is clearly one of the most accomplished sopranos in the country, and definitely has the credentials to perform on the show. She has performed in a variety of different operas all around the world, whether it be in New York, Italy, France, or a variety of other places. In the arts community, she is a huge star; but with that being said, she is probably not the most-recognizable person to ever appear for this anthem. Typically, they choose someone that the average football fan will be familiar with.

With all of this being said, Fleming’s performance is basically all that you would have wanted from a performance for the game: It was big, it was powerful, and it was respectful. While it was performed by a soprano (and not Tony, even if we are in Jersey), there weren’t any sort of “look at me” theatrics in here to try to make this performance into something that was about her rather than the song. With that being said, this may go down as one of our favorite Super Bowl anthems in some time. (The flyover from the 101st Airborne Division was of course a perfect way to cap things off.

What did you think about Fleming’s performance? Be sure to share your thoughts below.