Gladys Knight to perform national anthem at Super Bowl LIII

Gladys Knight will perform the national anthem prior to kickoff at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta on Feb. 3, the NFL announced Thursday.

"The Empress of Soul" and seven-time Grammy Award winner rose to fame in the 1960s as part of Gladys Knight and the Pips, which produced such hits as "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "The Nitty Gritty." The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

"I am proud to use my voice to unite and represent our country in my hometown of Atlanta," Knight said. "The NFL recently announced their new social justice platform Inspire Change, and I am honored to be a part of its inaugural year."

Knight joins a star-studded list of performers who have sung "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl, including Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, and most recently, Pink.

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