Bristol Motor Speedway announced today that Grammy® award-winning singer-songwriter Jennifer Nettles will take part in the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol. First recognized for her vocals in the hit duo Sugarland, and now known for a highly successful solo career, Nettles will sing the National Anthem just prior to kickoff. The game is scheduled to air on ABC's Saturday Night Football beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016.
"The spectrum of talent on grounds for this event is just amazing," said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager at Bristol Motor Speedway. "This is a huge celebration of American culture - football, music, tailgating and fun - and to have Jennifer Nettles join us for this event just puts a great capstone on the pre-game ceremonies."
The past year has been a busy one for Nettles, who embarked on her headline Playing With Fire Tour in 2015. The tour visited more than 20 cities in support of her second solo studio album, "Playing With Fire," which dropped in May 2016 on Big Machine Records. Nettles continued to rule the road as part of CMT's 2016 Next Women of Country Tour, visiting more than 30 cities across the U.S. and Canada. Her accolades include five ASCAP awards for her songwriting talent, plus a Grammy ® Award, ACM Award, and CMA Award for the emotionally charged hit, "Stay," which hit #1 and was certified Platinum.
Additionally, she has appeared with legendary rockers Cheap Trick on CMT Crossroads, joined the star-studded lineup for The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson, helped host ABC's CMA Country Christmas special, and made her acting debut on NBC's critically acclaimed Coat of Many Colors. Her next single, "Hey Heartbreak," officially impacts Country radio on Sept. 26, 2016.
Fans around the nation have watched over the past two weeks as BMS has rapidly transformed from an iconic NASCAR short track into a massive football stadium. The transition began immediately after August's Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, and has been documented via multiple time-lapse videos and a live stream of construction progress via EarthCam.
Already globally recognized for two of the most popular NASCAR events on the circuit, the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol weekend will showcase BMS' adaptability and attractiveness as a venue of choice for a range of world-class sporting and entertainment events. With more than 150,000 fans expected to attend the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, the event is destined to smash the existing world record for the largest American football game.
For the latest announcements surrounding the Battle at Bristol, as well as ticket and event information, call (855) 580-5525 or visit BattleAtBristol.com and Facebook.com/BattleAtBristol.
