The Super Bowl's Soulful Celebration

The 24th annual Super Bowl Soulful Celebration will take place at the Mesa Arts Center on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

As fans maneuver through Super Bowl Week, nearly 1600 people will make room on their itinerary for some inspirational, hand-clapping praise. The Super Bowl Soulful Celebration (formerly Super Bowl Gospel Celebration) will take place at the Mesa Arts Center on Wednesday, Feb, 8.

The celebration is the only multicultural program and community event that joins top gospel and mainstream artists, NFL players, and special guests for a night filled with music, hope, and fellowship.

This year’s host will be Willie Moore Jr., and the talent line up for the celebration’s 24th year includes Israel Houghton, Tye Tribbett, The NFL Players choir, Kierra Sheard-Kelly and the Godmother of Soul, Patti Labelle; The NFL Players Choir will be celebrating its 15th anniversary.

Melanie Few, the executive producer of SBSC, spent the majority of the ’90s writing letters to the National Football League about bridging the gap between the biggest game on earth and faith.

In 1998, Gene Upshaw, former head of the NFL Players Association, told her that if she could secure a performance from Gladys Knight, he would approve the event.

Few delivered, and the evening of inspiration and culture is now the only music event of its kind produced by a woman of color and sanctioned by the NFL for Super Bowl weekend.

“I started writing between 1990 and 1991. I had seven years of rejection letters. Gladys is from Atlanta, [and] she went to high school with my aunt. I delivered on Gladys Knight, so they had to let me do the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration,” stated Few.

“[Now,] we’re ramping up to our 25th anniversary. It really feels like a dream, because this was just an idea in 1990. Who would’ve known we would’ve been able to stand the test of time and [make] it all of these years. I’ll tell you the truth, I’m so grateful.”

According to an article by Andscape, it was Labelle who sparked the idea for the formation of the NFL Players Choir in the first place. Few stated that the choir started in 2008 after Labelle took notice of all the “good-looking men” in the audience and questioned whether any of them could sing.

The group is comprised of current and former NFL players and most recently competed in season 17 of "America’s Got Talent".

I spoke with Bryan Scott, former Atlanta Falcons linebacker and safety, on the importance of being fueled by passions outside of sport.

“People don't realize when you’re done playing your sport, it’s such big piece of you. Everybody goes through a grieving period. Herm Edwards, [shared] this: ‘when someone reads your obituary don’t let your playing years have been your best years, because there’s so much life after that.’ That would be the biggest piece of advice that I would give. Once you have started to [get] your groove, reach back and help that next person up.”

The night’s highest honor, the “Faith In Action” award, will be granted to Jalen Hurts. The Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback and Super Bowl LVII contender is being recognized for his impact in Philadelphia communities and his home state, Texas. Previous honorees include Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders, Russell Wilson, Tim Brown, and others.

Tickets are on sale now at superbowlsoulfulcelebration.com.