The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up to face off in the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. Kicking off the Big Game with her rendition of the national anthem is Grammy-nominated singer, actress, and philanthropist Demi Lovato, and her fans are definitely here for it.
What’s Demi Lovato been up to?
You may be familiar with Lovato’s role as Mitchie Torres in Camp Rock, which launched her singing career as a young teen. She went on to produce seven albums, the latest of which, Tell Me You Love Me, was released in 2017. Since then, the 27-year-old pop star gave scarce performances as she’s struggled with mental illness (and remained quite open and vulnerable about it with her fans) and survived a near-death overdose in 2018. But after giving an emotional and widely-loved performance at the 2020 Grammys, it’s clear that she’s back and stronger than ever. And if there’s something Gen Z loves, it’s authenticity and a good comeback story, so all eyes will be on her as she takes the stage on Sunday.
Let the bets begin
Fans will be watching Lovato’s performance extra closely for more reasons than her talent. Year after year, the Super Bowl proves to be the biggest single-day betting event in the U.S. According to the American Gaming Association, this year 26 million Americans will wager a staggering $6.8 billion on Super Bowl LIV. And they’re not just betting on the game itself—with timers in hand, fans will wager on the length of the national anthem performed. The most popular prop bet involving the national anthem is the over/under on its length. Will your teen be making a bet this year? What does your family think about betting in general? Does your teen think it’s ok to take part in it?
(We want to be clear: We do not condone betting, but we are aware that this is a common activity among football fans across the nation, so if this is something your family is uncomfortable with, we highly encourage you to have a non-threatening discussion about it with your teen so you can be on the same page.)
Fans have done some pretty extensive research on Lovato’s previous anthem performances to determine the most accurate time stamp to bet on. They’re relying on the outcomes of her multiple appearances kicking off previous sporting events (she gave her first anthem performance prior to the Dallas Cowboys vs. Seattle Seahawks 2008 Thanksgiving game at just 16 years old). It’s safe to say this isn’t her first time around the block, so fans have a pretty good template to base their bets on, but questions are still up in the air. This being her first big performance since the Grammy’s, will she belt out every word and pepper the song with lots of dramatic pauses? Or, will she opt for a short and sweet version, hoping to do the anthem justice without putting the attention on herself for too long? We’ll all find out soon enough.
Talk about it
Talk to your teen about the upcoming game. Are they excited about Lovato’s big moment? Or are they more looking forward to the halftime show with headliners Jennifer Lopez and Shakira? Will they be placing bets on the game and/or the length of the anthem? Do they think it’s ok to bet? Why or why not? Maybe they’re just showing up for the commercials and famous appetizers (certainly a worthy reason to watch the Super Bowl). Ask questions and get involved in what your kid is excited about this year!