February 13, 2024
Super Bowl Soulful Celebration Hosts 25th Anniversary Show
The 25th anniversary of the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration brought together legendary musical acts and esteemed football players to celebrate their faith and their love of the sport.
Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas would be incomplete without its Soulful Celebration. For its 25th anniversary, Cedric the Entertainer and Tichina Arnold hosted the star-studded musical event on Feb. 7 that celebrated faith, football, and community.
Taking place at the Pearl Concert Theater within the Palms Resort and Casino, the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration reached new heights to commemorate its first quarter of existence. Its performance lineup not only included the likes of legendary acts such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Kirk Franklin, and T-Pain, but also featured Southern University’s drumline band known as The Human Jukebox.
Paying homage to Black History Month through a blend of gospel and Black secular music acts, the Soulful Celebration is an annual showcase of Black talent ahead of football’s biggest night. Originally called the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, it remains the only multicultural program sanctioned by the NFL during championship weekend. While it remains true to its roots as a faith-based event, it has evolved into uplift through all genres by Black artists.
For this year’s theme of “Just Believe,” the event’s honorees were multiple NFL players whose mission and stories have uplifted their cultural and local communities. HBCU alumni Markquese Bell and Damar Hamlin were highlighted for their achievement and determination in the sport, while CJ Stroud accepted the coveted Faith in Action award. In his speech, he emphasized how his faith in God drives him to strive for excellence and be an inspiration to the next generation of spiritual athletes.
Gayle King helped present fellow television host and former NFL player Nate Burleson with the Lifetime of Inspiration award, as all in attendance took part in celebrating these men of faith and football as they showcased their love and passion for motivating others through the sport. To catch up on the performances and heartfelt speeches from memorable event, the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration is available to stream now on CBS.com and Paramount+.
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