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Super Bowl Gospel Celebration details announced

ATLANTA — The City of Atlanta announced details of the 20th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration Wednesday.

Channel 2's Christian Jennings was at City Hall, where there was lots of excitement about the event, which has roots right here in Atlanta. The event's founder, Melanie Few, grew up in the city.

"I went to Super Bowl 30 years ago with some friends, and at the end of the weekend, I said, 'I wonder why gospel doesn't have a platform for the Super Bowl?'" Few said. "I literally wrote the NFL for seven years."

Few's vision became a reality in 1999, and now the 20th annual event is happening in her hometown. One of the highlights? A performance by the NFL Players Choir and player testimonials.

Former Atlanta Falcons player Bryan Scott has been singing with the NFL Players Choir since the NFL drafted him in 2003. A few of the singers gave a sneak peek Wednesday at City Hall.

"Honestly, it’s about getting together and fellowship with the guys," Scott said. "There’s a lot of negativity sometimes just surrounding NFL players, but there’s a lot of good guys out there and this is our time to stand together united and showcase to the world other talents we have outside of playing football."

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The event takes place this year on Jan. 31 at Atlanta Symphony Hall.

Mayor Keisha Bottoms says the event is just one more way people can be involved in the Super Bowl even if they can't attend the game.

"This gospel concert is really a long line of events that you will see happening as we lead up to the Super Bowl," Bottoms said. "Because they vast majority of people in this city and nation won't ever get to go in to the stadium."

Other performers include Kirk Franklin, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, the Winans and more.