ASL Performer Aarron Loggins Steals the Show During National Anthem of Super Bowl
The Super Bowl always features famous names and familiar faces. It’s natural that people would want to flock to one of America’s biggest sporting events.
Super Bowl LIII proved no different, despite the protests of a number of activists calling for a boycott. According to USA Today, numerous celebrities chose to protest the event due to what they perceived as the NFL’s poor treatment of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
But one lesser-known performer decided that the Super Bowl was the perfect place for him to advance a different cause.
It’s tempting to say that all eyes were on R&B maven Gladys Knight when she performed the national anthem.
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But quite a few were actually watching a man as he accompanied her in American Sign Language, signing out the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner” with flair and panache. That man was Aarron Loggins.
Now Loggins isn’t exactly a household name, but he is not a newcomer to performing either.
According to Heavy, Loggins has appeared on shows such as Tina Fey’s “The C-Word” and “Shock Nation.” He also acted on stage in “Who’s Tommy.”
He also has a history of professional dance. What makes all of this even more impressive is that Loggins is hearing impaired.
Loggins has dedicated himself to creating beautiful ASL interpretations of music. His YouTube channel features interpretations of hits such as Zayn Malik and Taylor Swift’s “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” and Al B. Sure!’s “Night and Day.”
He also sees himself as an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing. He currently is working on a nonprofit called Believe In YOURSELF.
And Loggins was on one of the biggest television nights of the year near a certified singing legend at the Super Bowl. He didn’t just stiffly sign his way through the song, either.
His arms swooped back and forth before snapping into place. His whole body swayed in time with the music.
You could feel the drama when his hands soared heavenward as Knight crooned about “the rockets’ red glare.” His interpretation was every bit as much a show as that of the legend in the spotlight.
Indeed, the crowd cheered for Knight as she hit the anthem’s high points. But it was easy to imagine that they were also cheering for Loggins.
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