Melanie Few combines music, faith and football in a soulful Super Bowl celebration

Amidst the madness across the Super Bowl, there’s a hint of pleasure that flows through the week’s festivities, beyond the important event itself. One of such holidays is the so-called A soulful Super Bowl celebration, a testament to the vision of selling pioneer Melanie Few. Its mission was clear: to spark a spiritual movement that will strengthen the Christian community ahead of the most important television event in the country.

“The Super Bowl has always been about sports fans. But more importantly, it has become a diverse lifestyle event, attracting a more diverse audience, including a huge swath of women,” Few explains. Her drive to create Super Bowl Soulful Celebration was driven by a desire to amplify the testimonies of NFL elites in the assumption that their stories of triumph and resilience would encourage countless others.

However, the journey towards this twenty fifth anniversary has not been without its challenges. It took a few years of perseverance and determination before Few earned the NFL’s endorsement. “We created Super Bowl Soulful to inspire NFL fans and local communities, but at the same time we built a global following of music and sports fans. We have been around for 25 years thanks to the support we received from the unsung heroes of the NFL,” he reveals. “We initially pitched the idea in 1991 and it took us 7 years to get a YES and approval from the NFL.”

Few’s historic achievement as one among the primary Black women to carry an NFL license reflects her deep-rooted connection to music, nurtured throughout her church upbringing. What began as a low-key gospel brunch was a star-studded extravaganza that featured players like Deion Sanders and our cover star Russell Wilson, in addition to gospel musicians Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin. Today, the event, renamed Soulful Celebration, has expanded to incorporate a number of the biggest names in the soccer, hip-hop, R&B and gospel communities.

The recent rebranding to Soulful Celebration was intended to broaden the event’s appeal without discouraging its loyal fans. “We have been very careful to keep our long-time, traditional supporters and supporters engaged while also reaching a new audience. This year, our talent pool consisted of artists from a variety of genres including R&B, gospel, pop and more,” Few said. This strategy paid off by including diverse musical acts resembling Earth Wind & Fire, Mickey Guyton and T-Pain.

Reflecting on the impact of the celebration, Few highlights its role in inspiring NFL fans and communities around the globe. “We have existed for 25 years thanks to the support we received from the unsung heroes of the NFL,” he admits.

To rejoice its twenty fifth anniversary, the celebration was held in the spirit of Las Vegas, promoting each the music and the Black community. With an all-female African American production team and co-hosts Cedric The Entertainer and Tichina Arnold, the event showcased diversity and excellence on a grand scale. Both on camera and behind the scenes, Few says he has “been passionate about hiring minority vendors for years.”

Melanie Few’s leadership has been instrumental in cultivating a culture of triumph. “The lesson is to never give up,” he says. As Super Bowl Soulful Celebration continues to grow, Few reflects on what it took to get here 25 years later. Through all of it, he embodies the spirit of perseverance, echoing the timeless words of Frank L. Stanton: “KEEP A GOIN.”