The 16th Annual NFL Sanctioned Super Bowl Gospel Celebration will kick-off Super Bowl XLIX weekend on February 1, 2015 at Gammage Hall on the campus of Arizona State University in Phoenix, AZ.

American Family Insurance, the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration will bring together GRAMMY® and DOVE Award-winning artists, inspirational leaders and special guests to create an unforgettable evening celebrating faith and football. Headlining the night will be some of the biggest names in Gospel & Christian music, including one of the strongest female voices in Contemporary Christian Music, five-time Dove Award winning artist Natalie Grant; multiple GRAMMY, Dove and Stellar Awards winning artist Israel Houghton; three-time GRAMMY winning artist Donnie McClurkin; and GRAMMY, multiple Dove & Stellar Awards winner Fred Hammond.

Also appearing will be Phoenix-native singer-songwriter Mali Music.  Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.Always a highlight of the evening, the NFL Players Choir will make its eighth appearance, once again under the direction of Donnie McClurkin. Annually, both active and former NFL players gather to share a mutual love of performing off the field, using their musical gifts to celebrate their faith through song. These athlete and musicians come together inspired to create an extraordinary experience unique to football's biggest weekend. 

Over the past sixteen years, Super Bowl Gospel Celebration has brought together amazing performances and special guests including Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Yolanda Adams, Tamela Mann, Mary Mary, Kelly Price, The Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin, Lecrae, and many more. 

"The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration has been a formal, sanctioned partner for 16 years, and has played an integral role in bringing together fans and football players under one roof with a shared love of inspirational music," said Tisha Ford, Former NFL Director of Events Business Development and current NFL Consultant.

"This year we celebrate the 16th Anniversary of bringing even more power and celebration to one of the biggest events of the year - the Super Bowl," says Melanie Few-Harrison, Creator and Executive Producer of Super Bowl Gospel Celebration.

"Each year we aim to make the experience bigger than the last with artists and special guests from all backgrounds and this year will be no different! Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix will be our biggest yet!

"Since its inception in 1999, the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration has donated a portion of its proceeds to local and national charities. For the second year, the event will be benefitting the incredible work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.Tickets are currently available for purchase on www.ticketmaster.com. 

The show will be televised in February 2014. 

SOURCE: Front Gate