Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old poet who captured the nation’s attention with her reading at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, is taking her talents to the Super Bowl.
Gorman will read a pretaped poem to be broadcast at Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 7, the Washington Post reports.
Gorman’s poem will honor Trimaine Davis, an educator from Gorman’s hometown of Los Angeles; Suzie Dorner, a Tampa nurse manager; and James Martin, a veteran of the Marine Corps. The three have been named honorary co-captains of the Super Bowl.
“We are honored to recognize these three individuals who represent the best in all of us,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “During this incredibly challenging time in our lives, Trimaine, Suzie, and James have exemplified the essence of leadership, each in their own way. We are grateful for their commitment and proud to share their stories and recognize them during this special moment on Super Bowl Sunday.”
Gorman’s performance at Biden’s inauguration made her a literary superstar, and three of her as-yet-unreleased books instantly shot up the bestseller lists. Her publisher, Penguin Random House, is printing three million copies of the books, a sign of incredible demand for her poetry.
According to BuzzFeed, Gorman will be the first poet to perform at a Super Bowl.
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
