Philadelphia is reeling after a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. The Eagles lost for the first time this season, and it was a miserable one at that.
The Eagles led 38-35 with less than a minute to play before two fourth quarter fumbles cost them the game.
Why eagles lost
After a Super Bowl win against the Dallas Cowboys, Eagles fans were feeling confident about their team. With a promising rookie quarterback in Nick Foles, the team had a strong chance to go on and win a second Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The team’s record started off mediocre, but it quickly rebounded and they had a 10-6 record by the end of the season. They also won the NFC East to lock up a playoff spot.
But after an impressive week 15 win over the New York Jets, the Eagles started losing games. A game against the Washington Redskins ended with a last-second field goal and a loss to the New Orleans Saints in week 17.
It was then that a change occurred at head coach, as former San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Ray Rhodes was tapped to replace Bob Kotite. The Eagles began to improve and eventually won their first division title in four years.
Rihanna’s jam-packed Super Bowl halftime show will be the star of the entertainment sideshow, but the singer is not the only one singing on the field. Country star Chris Stapleton will also take to the stage.
The Philadelphia Eagles lost their first game of the season, but they’ll be back to win it all.
Rihanna Performs
Rihanna isn’t exactly new to performing at the Super Bowl, but her performance on Sunday was more than just a knockout. The pop and R&B superstar wowed fans, as she performed her favorite hits to an expected audience of over 100 million people.
Rihanna began and ended her performance by hovering high above the field at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. She performed her 13-minute set atop a series of platforms hanging from the ceiling, and she wore a puffy red jumpsuit that showed a baby bump. That set off a wave of social media speculation until her representative confirmed that she is pregnant with her second child.
In her 13-minute halftime show, Rihanna stacked a lot of songs on top of one another. The result is a collection of hits that felt more like a box-checking survey of her most popular work than any larger statement or protest directed at the NFL, which has been a frequent target of her public statements about social justice issues.
Her set also featured a few surprises, including a song written by Jay-Z and a performance of her hit “Umbrella.” She hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Anti, but she still had plenty of big songs to choose from.
The nine-time Grammy winner stacked a number of her most popular songs on top of one another, and that approach left room for some high-flying pageantry. And it allowed Rihanna to show off her vocal range, especially in the choruses of her songs.
She sung her way through “We Found Love” and “Diamonds” in a voice that’s been on fire since she returned to the stage after a six-year hiatus. She also delivered some of her biggest hits in the past few years, including “Work” and “Bitch Better Have My Money,” and she even sang an a capella version of “Umbrella” at one point.
And that’s not to mention the anthem, which she sang on behalf of the Black community and her country. She sung the song with a choir dressed all in white chiming in behind her on the field at State Farm Stadium, where the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will kick off the game on Sunday.
But, as usual, she didn’t forget the fans, and she made a special effort to include them in her performance. She teamed with ASL translator Justina Miles to help her perform her hit song, and she encouraged fans to lift every voice in the stadium.
The singer’s set was a reminder of how much she has to offer the world. It was her most complete Super Bowl performance to date, and it drew praise from fans around the globe. She’ll continue to bring her unique brand of musical style and talent to the world. And she will always be a fan-favorite.
Chris Stapleton Performs
Chris Stapleton opened up Super Bowl LVII with a powerful performance of the national anthem, inspiring tears both at home and on the field. Stapleton, an eight-time Grammy winner who’s been in the country music scene for over 20 years, wowed the crowd with his raspy vocals during the anthem at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Stapleton’s sultry voice has earned him several awards, including a spot on the Grammys’ “Album of the Year” list in 2019. The singer also has eight GRAMMY nominations and 10 ACM awards to his name. In addition to his career in music, Stapleton has also carved out a niche as a writer and co-writer for numerous artists.
He has worked with a number of notable artists, including Justin Timberlake, John Mayer, Rage Against the Machine, and Adele. He’s been married to his wife Morgane since 2007, and the two have five children together.
The 44-year-old troubadour has been a staple in country music for years, and his 14-time CMA Award winning “Tennessee Whiskey” album was released in 2012. His most recent studio album, Starting Over, came out in 2020 and received three GRAMMY nominations.
When it comes to his singing, Stapleton has a powerful rumbly tone that’s both soulful and heartfelt. His vocals have garnered comparisons to Whitney Houston’s renowned pre-game performance in 1991, and Stapleton’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” is sure to have fans crying at the end.
Stapleton’s performance was followed by performances by Babyface and Sheryl Lee Ralph, who sang their respective versions of the national anthems. Babyface’s performance of “America the Beautiful” was a smooth, low-key, and soulful tune that was a little too similar to Stapleton’s.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, who’s best known for her role in the comedy show Abbott Elementary, also impressed on Sunday with a powerful rendition of the black national anthem. She was accompanied by ASL translator Justina Miles, and her performance of “Lift Every Voice And Sing” was a memorable one.
As an actor, Sheryl Lee Ralph has received a number of accolades throughout her career. She was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on Abbott Elementary.
Her singing career has come a long way, with her most recent singles, “Stop and Smell the Roses” and “I Love You Like a Brother,” both reaching the top of the charts. She’s a popular artist and her music has been featured on many TV shows.
In addition to her singing career, she’s also been a spokesperson for the brand Microban 24 disinfectant spray. Her ad campaign has centered around the product’s ability to fight off viruses, and she’s already won over her audience.
Sheryl Lee Ralph Wins
Sheryl Lee Ralph made history on Sunday when she performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on the field before Super Bowl LVII. This is the first time the NFL has put this song on the stage at a pregame event, and the Philadelphia Eagles fans who were in attendance certainly appreciated it.
Sheryl is an alumna of Rutgers and made a name for herself in the entertainment industry with roles on Broadway. She is a Golden Globe nominee, Critics Choice winner and Independent Spirit Award winner. She has starred in many films, including To Sleep With Anger and Sister Act 2 and is best known for her role as Deena Jones in the original production of Dreamgirls on Broadway.
Before her big moment on the Super Bowl stage, Sheryl Lee Ralph took to social media to give a shoutout to the Philadelphia Eagles. She credited the team with pushing her to success.
The actress has been in the spotlight since she started her career in 1980 with a role in the Broadway hit Dreamgirls. She has continued to work in film, television and theater. She was also known for her charity efforts, which include founding The DIVA Foundation, a nonprofit she established in 1990 in memory of her friends and colleagues who died from HIV/AIDS.
Sheryl Lee Ralph won her first Emmy in 2022 for her role as Barbara Howard in the hit ABC comedy Abbott Elementary. She became the first Black woman to win the award. She won over fans with her dignified portrayal of a teacher who has the power to change her students’ lives. She even won over the audience with her touching acceptance speech, ending with a big thank you to her “friends” who helped make her dream come true.
