Reba McEntire Says Her Job Is to 'Bring the Patriotism' with National Anthem at Super Bowl (Exclusive)
"It's not about me. It's about everybody who has worked so hard to get to the Super Bowl," McEntire tells PEOPLE ahead of Sunday's big game
It's almost time for Reba McEntire to sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVIII.
Ahead of the big game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, the country superstar, 68, caught up with PEOPLE about looking forward to performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the San Francisco 49ers.
"Oh, I'm so excited. You know, it's not about me. It's about everybody who has worked so hard to get to the Super Bowl, and my job is to bring the patriotism," McEntire tells PEOPLE in an interview about her new collaboration with Sonic.
"I'm going to be singing for not only the people who are going to be performing and playing on the field that day, but it's for everybody who has worked so hard to ensure our freedom and try to have as much peace on earth as we can," she says. "It's not about me. I'm just the conduit and the water hose who gets to sing the song."
Following McEntire's performance, she'll get to watch the football match — where Travis Kelce will play as the Chiefs' tight end. In October, she joked about having a "crush" on the NFL star and feeling "mad" toward his girlfriend Taylor Swift in an interview with TODAY.com.
Of course, the "Fancy" singer only has admiration for Swift, 34, and she'll have nothing but kind words if they run into each other at the game.
"I'm going to tell her congratulations on the Grammys. My gosh," says McEntire of the pop superstar, who won best pop vocal album and album of the year at the 2024 Grammy Awards for Midnights. "She took that thing by storm."
The Voice coach, who's in a relationship with actor Rex Linn, is happy to see Swift and Kelce, 34, enjoying their time as a couple. "I'm thrilled to death with their relationship. Travis is a cutie pie," she says, noting that she's "excited" to potentially cross paths with players on both teams.
"I hope I get to meet Patrick Mahomes, and I would love to meet Brock Purdy. Brock was one that was not expected to even play professional football," raves McEntire. "He was the last one to be picked in the [2022 NFL] draft, and now here he is at the Super Bowl. He's a humble, humble young man, and I'm just so excited for all of them."
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In addition to the "I'm a Survivor" musician's rendition of the national anthem, Post Malone will sing "America the Beautiful" and Andra Day will perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at Super Bowl LVIII, where Usher will headline the halftime show.
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