Carol Channing Recalls She 'Had no Idea' Performing at the Super Bowl Would be Significant

Here's a piece of trivia that unites both sports and Broadway fans: Who was the first celebrity performer chosen for the Super Bowl halftime show? The answer is Broadway legend Carol Channing.

"It was like an opening night on Broadway, except we didn't have much time to prepare for that first appearance," says Channing. "It felt a little like an after-thought. It must have been well received, because they asked me back two years later."

Famous at the time for her star turn in HELLO, DOLLY!, Channing performed for Super Bowl IV's halftime show and returned again two years later for Super Bowl VI. These days, the chosen performer for the Super Bowl halftime show is surrounded with copious amounts of hype, but Chaning says she could not have foreseen that.

"We had no idea it would be such a big deal or set the tone for future half-time shows. Well? They still talk about that appearance today."

She also says that preparation was minimal, "We had very little time to plan that first appearance. I recall we went over the song a few times and they threw me to the crowd. The second time was much different."

When asked whether or not she had stage fright at those appearances, she says, "Oh! I still do. Helen Hayes - I'm dropping a name - used to say that stage fright was God-given. It does something to us before we walk out on stage. We can't help but think: "Is this the crowd that won't get it?" I can't remember if I had any stage fright at the first Bowl. But I did the second time."

Source: The Guardian

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