WWE announced that Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer Yolanda Adams, also known as the “first lady of modern gospel,” will perform ‘America the Beautiful’ to kick off WrestleMania 35 on April 7. The song, which kicks off sports-entertainment’s biggest night of the year in place of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ has been performed by who’s who of musical legends, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Gladys Knight, Little Richard, and Boyz II Men.
Here’s a clip of John Legend performing the song at WrestleMania XXIV, if you’re new to this and want to witness the very American occasion of a celebrity singing about the greatness of America in a stadium full of wrestling fans.
More on the announcement:
WWE has announced that Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer Yolanda Adams, will perform “America the Beautiful,” kicking off WrestleMania 35 on Sunday, April 7, at MetLife Stadium and streaming live around the world on WWE Network at 7 ET/4 PT.
Known as the “First Lady of Modern Gospel,” the Houston native has sold over 12 million albums worldwide and was the host of “The Yolanda Adams Morning Show.” She has won five Grammy Awards, 16 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, four Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards, one American Music Award, seven NAACP Image Awards, one Soul Train Music Award, and five BET Awards. Additionally, Adams was named by Billboard as the No. 1 Gospel Artist of the last decade.
Tune in to see Yolanda Adams perform at WrestleMania on Sunday, April 7, streaming live on WWE Network at 7 ET/4 PT.
A gospel singer should be fine opening the show, as long as she isn’t playing John Cena to the ring.
Adams is the third musical act announced for the event, alongside rock icon Joan Jett and el vagabundo, Elias.
