Gladys Knight Singing National Anthem at Super Bowl, Addresses Colin Kaepernick

The NFL announced today that Gladys Knight will be singing the National Anthem during the Super Bowl LIII pregame. Following the announcement, Knight has shared a statement in response to Variety’s “question about her stance on the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick,” the former NFL quarterback and political activist who’s been blacklisted from the league due to his peaceful protests against police brutality.

“I understand that Mr. Kaepernick is protesting two things, and they are police violence and injustice,” Knight told Variety. “It is unfortunate that our National Anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the National Anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone.” Read the full statement.

Knight continued, discussing her own history of activism and hopes of unity:

I am here today and on Sunday, Feb. 3 to give the Anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good — I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country’s Anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII.

No matter who chooses to deflect with this narrative and continue to mix these two in the same message, it is not so and cannot be made so by anyone speaking it. I pray that this National Anthem will bring us all together in a way never before witnessed and we can move forward and untangle these truths which mean so much to all of us.

Back in September, it was revealed that Maroon 5 would headline the halftime show. Travis Scott and Big Boi were also confirmed as guest acts. Despite many artists’ boycott of the show, Travis agreed to perform on the condition that the NFL join him in making a donation to social justice organization the Dream Corps. Colin Kaepernick has since voiced his opposition of the performance.

Last year, Pink kicked off the Super Bowl with the National Anthem (despite having the flu). In previous years, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, and many others have taken on the performance.

This article was originally published on Thursday, January 17 at 6:11 p.m. Eastern. It was last updated at 9:42 p.m. Eastern.