‘Empress of soul’ says decades of civil rights action have earned her the right to sing on stage in February

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Singer Gladys Knight has defended her decision to perform the national anthem at this year’s Super Bowl after being criticised by supporters of former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who used the pre-game tradition to protest against racial injustice.

Knight, who is from Atlanta, where the game will be played, said she wanted to “give the anthem back its voice”, and to include Americans struggling for racial justice. She said she did not need to prove her commitment to civil rights.

The singer, known as “the empress of soul” for a career that stretches back five decades, said in a statement: “I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good.”

“I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country’s anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl,” Knight added.

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Many entertainers who back Kaepernick have been reluctant to perform at the Super Bowl on 3 February, the biggest sporting and television event in the US.

Her decision had been criticised on social media by some supporters of the “take a knee” stance championed by NFL players who crouch down during the anthem to protest against racial injustice. President Donald Trump and other conservatives have called the players unpatriotic.

Kaepernick started the protest movement in 2016 over police shootings of unarmed black men. His decision to kneel during the anthem sparked a heated national debate, and he has not found an NFL team to play for in recent years.

Knight said it was “unfortunate that the national anthem had been dragged into this debate”.

Rihanna and Pink are among musicians who are reported to have declined to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in support of Kaepernick, who has sued the NFL, accusing owners of colluding to blackball him.

Pop band Maroon 5 and rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi were confirmed last week as the halftime entertainment at next month’s game.