Gladys Knight scheduled to sing at Super Bowl LIII amidst Colin Kaepernick controvery

Gladys Knight, the legendary soul singer, has been given the honor of performing the National Anthem at Super Bowl LIII.

The 74-year-old will lend her powerful voice to the patriotic song and vows to deliver a powerful message to America and former football player Colin Kaepernick.

In a video released by the National Football Association, Knight shared her experience growing up as an African-American woman and how important it will be for her to sing at such a big stage.

KNIGHT'S MESSAGE TO AMERICA

According to Knight, who lived through the civil rights movement, Kaepernick's decision to mixed public violence and injustice with the National Anthem is wrong.

The singer believes the patriotic song should not be dragged into the debate and that the "distinctive senses of the National Anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone."

The seven-time Grammy Award-winner hopes her performance will help bring meaning to "The Star-Spangled Banner," as well as free it of the prejudice and struggles that she fought against her whole life.

Knight shared the hope of bringing "Americans of all colors together" on February 3, 2019, hinting that the National Anthem should not be mixed with any racial-related issues.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTIONS

Kaepernick was the man responsible for leading other players to take a knee while the National Anthem was playing and this movement quickly became unpopular amongst most Americans.

His actions were highly controversial and made it very hard for him to find a new NFL team to play after opting out of his deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

The singer believes the patriotic song should not be dragged into the debate.

Kaepernick was eventually forced to retire and is now more famous for his activism than his skills on the field. But football players weren't the only ones influenced by the 31-year-old.

FOLLOWING HIS EXAMPLE

An NFL cheerleader, who is yet to be identified, was caught on camera taking a knee during the National Anthem, right before a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders.

She was the first cheerleader to ever join the protest started by Kaepernick, but it hasn't been revealed if she faced disciplinary action considering the number of rules NFL cheerleaders are required to follow.