It’s been a big day for Lady Gaga. First, she announced she would sing a tribute to the late, great David Bowie at the Grammys this year. Now it’s been announced that Gaga will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl on Sunday. The NFL confirmed the news Tuesday that Gaga will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where the Carolina Panthers will take on the Denver Broncos. Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin will perform in American Sign Language during the national anthem.
This, along with the upcoming tribute to David Bowie, marks another huge step in a remarkable career turnaround this past year for the pop singer. After debuting to the masses in 2008 with her first album The Fame, which included the monster hits “Poker Face,” “Just Dance,” and others, Gaga became a household name, famous just as much for her songs as for her outrageous costumes and performances. But by the time her third full length album Art Pop hit in 2013, the general public seemed to grow tired of the meat dresses and broken flower pot hats, and the album underperformed. Certain people declared her career over. Â It is safe to say they spoke too soon.
Wisely, Gaga put the costumes and the gimmicks on the shelf, and produced an album of classic standards with the legendary Tony Bennett, Cheek to Cheek, which won her a grammy. That, along with a a rousing tribute to The Sound of Music at last year’s Oscars, silenced those who said she was all flash and no talent. She capped off 2015 with her first starring acting role in American Horror Story: Hotel, a role which won her a Golden Globe. Getting the chance to sing the national anthem will just be another feather in her cap.