NEW YORK (AP) — The Super Bowl will have a touch of the classical this year: Opera star Renee Fleming will sing the national anthem.

The four-time Grammy winner will perform before the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Feb 2. Fleming is the first opera star to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. In recent years, it has been performed mainly by a mix of pop and country stars.

Known as "The People's Diva," the soprano is closely identified with the New York City region, having spent years singing on iconic stages such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Last year, she received the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor the government gives to artists.

Fleming, who lives in New York City, sang the national anthem before Game 2 of the 2003 World Series at Yankee Stadium.

___

Online:

http://www.superbowl.com