ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCED FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN ATLANTA
College football fans -- it's almost time! The College Football Playoff National Championship is set for Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Downtown Atlanta.
Notre Dame will take on Ohio State for the national title. But before the football showdown begins, the pregame entertainment will be a show you don't want to miss. There will be musical guests and more, including performances by some with metro Atlanta ties.
Pregame activities will start at 7:30 pm., with kickoff set for 7:45 p.m. Here's a look at some of the festivities that will happen before and during the game.
Who is singing the national anthem?
Coco Jones will perform the Star-Spangled Banner. The R&B singer is known for her hits "ICU" and "Here We Go."
And 20-year-old Alexander Charlot, a 12th-grade student from Monroe, Georgia, will perform “Star-Spangled Banner” in American Sign Language. Charlot attends the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf.
Who will perform "America the Beautiful?"
Georgia, get ready! You are in for a treat when the Spelman College Glee Club performs "America the Beautiful." The Glee Club is celebrating its centennial this year, according to the school's website. It's considered the oldest college choir of African American women in the country. The Glee Club will be under the director of Dr. Kevin Johnson.
And while the Glee Club sings, 14-year-old Johrgia Peaches, an 8th-grade student from Newnan, Georgia, will perform “America the Beautiful” in ASL. Just like Charlot, Peaches also attends the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf.
Honoring MLK
The championship game is being played in Atlanta, the cradle of the civil rights movement, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. His daughter, Dr. Bernice King, who is also CEO of the King Center, will participate in the coin toss on the field.
Recognition to retired Marine, Medal of Honor recipient
CFP will recognize Medal of Honor recipient Retired Marne Cpl. Kyle Carpenter received the nation's highest military reward in 2014 for his heroic actions in Afghanistan in 2010. Carpenter and fellow Marine Cpl. Nicholas Eufrazio were standing guard on a rooftop in the Helmand Province when a hand grenade was thrown at their location. Carpenter jumped on the enemy device, saving the life of Eufrazio.
Six drummers from Clark Atlanta University Drumline to perform
DR Mal-Ski will have a chance to energize the crowd and will be joined by six drummers from the Clark Atlanta University Drumline. Their collaboration is for sure one to watch! CAU's drumline is known for its precision and pageantry.
