Watch Amanda Gorman recite a heartfelt original poem at the 2021 Super Bowl
The Harvard grad read an original work dedicated to three "everyday heroes" who served as captains.
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Less than a month after capturing the nation’s attention at Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration, poet Amanda Gorman became the first poet to perform at the pregame Super Bowl ceremony.
The Harvard grad, who recited her original poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration in January, read an original work via video honoring three “everyday heroes” who served as honorary captains for the game.
Gorman first announced that she would be performing at the Super Bowl on Jan. 28, adding that the NFL actually first contacted her weeks before her inauguration recitation.
“Humbled to be the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl! I’m so excited to place poetry at the forefront of the most watched U.S. television broadcast, & to honor 3 heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. Can’t wait for the world to hear their stories!” Gorman wrote on Twitter.
“I also wanted to be the first to say that while it might seem like this opportunity must’ve came from my inauguration fame, I’ve actually been talking with the Super Bowl for weeks now, far prior to my invite to the inauguration,” Gorman continued. “Had to keep my blessing secret till now.”
I also wanted to be the first to say that while it might seem like this opportunity must’ve came from my inauguration fame, I’ve actually been talking with the Super Bowl for weeks now, far prior to my invite to the inauguration. Had to keep my blessing secret till now🙏🏿
— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) January 28, 2021
Matt Shapiro, the NFL’s vice president of events strategy, confirmed to USA Today Sports that the NFL first reached out to Gorman in November.
“We knew that in order to honor them properly – and all of those across the country that they represent – we needed the right words that would match the power of that moment,” Shapiro said. “And there’s no one more perfectly suited to bring those words to the world than Amanda Gorman.”
Watch Gorman’s full performance below.
What a moment. @TheAmandaGorman #SBLV pic.twitter.com/v8VM9uhPww
— NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2021
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