Chicks, Santana, No Doubt To Rock Super Bowl

The Dixie Chicks, No Doubt, and Santana have been tapped to perform during the Super Bowl XXXVII festivities Jan. 26 in San Diego. The National Football League (NFL) has confirmed that the Chicks will perform the National Anthem prior to the game, while No Doubt's official Web site notes that the band will take part in the AT&T Wireless-sponsored halftime show. And NFL sources tell Billboard.com that Santana will perform with special guests during the pre-game show.

As previously reported, country artist Shania Twain will also be performing during the halftime show. Celine Dion also will reportedly be on hand to perform a rendition of "God Bless America" before the game, although the NFL has not yet confirmed her participation.

For the Dixie Chicks, the honor is something the group has been hoping to achieve for a long time. "For three years, we've been asking to perform 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at the Super Bowl," lead singer Natalie Maines told Billboard last month, when the group was in negotiations with the NFL.

"Anyone who tells you there's no pressure to sing the National Anthem 'live' to one of the biggest television audiences on the planet is not telling the truth," fellow Chick Emily Robison said in a statement today (Jan. 8). "Sure, I'm a little nervous, but we're all also very excited and honored for the privilege."

The Dixie Chicks are up for four Grammy awards, including the album of the year trophy for their latest album, "Home" (Monument/Columbia). Released in September, the set debuted at No. 1 The Billboard 200 and held the post for three consecutive weeks. The album has sold 3.8 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

For Santana, the performance will precede a world tour that's due to kick off Feb. 12 in Laredo, Texas. He'll be on the road in support of his namesake group's guest-laden Arista album, "Shaman." The set debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200, and has sold 1.5 million copies in the U.S. No Doubt's latest, "Rock Steady" (Interscope), debuted in December 2001 at No. 9 on The Billboard 200, and has sold 2.4 million copies in the U.S.


-- Barry A. Jeckell & Carla Hay, N.Y.


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