Star-studded Guests Attend Super Bowl's Annual Soulful Celebration

INVESTIGATES. ALL RIGHT, KATHY, THANK YOU. WDSU REPORTER JONAH GILMORE IS LIVE AT THE MAHALIA JACKSON THEATER, WHERE SECURITY IS TIGHT THERE AS WELL. AND JONAH, THE SOULFUL CELEBRATION WAS A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE, RIGHT? YEAH, IT WAS A STAR STUDDED EVENT WITH GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ARTISTS, FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND ACTORS. THEY ALL TALKED ABOUT THE SOULFUL CELEBRATION, BUT ALSO TELLING ME HOW NEW ORLEANS HAS BEEN TREATING THEM. THIS FEELS LIKE HOME. EVERYONE IS SO NICE HERE, SO WELCOMING, AND THE HOSPITALITY, THE CULTURE AND ENERGY OF NEW ORLEANS IS ON FULL DISPLAY FOR THE MANY SUPER BOWL VISITORS. OH, I LOVE NEW ORLEANS. I LOVE NEW ORLEANS. IT’S IT’S A REALLY CLOSE TO MY HEART BECAUSE THE PEOPLE, THE LOVE AS MANY CELEBRITIES EXPLORE THE CRESCENT CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME, OTHERS ARE EXCITED TO BE HOME. I’M HOME. I’M HAPPY. I’M JUST HERE TO MAKE SURE HE HAS A GOOD TIME. I’M HER SECURITY. NEW ORLEANS NATIVE DAWN RICHARD SAYS IT’S AN HONOR FOR THE CITY TO HOST THE SUPER BOWL, HIGHLIGHTING THE RICH CULTURE AND VIBRANCY, SOME OF WHICH ARE CREATED BY HER FRIEND QUEEN TAJ. I THINK PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA THE STORY AND THE HISTORY OF OUR INDIGENOUS CULTURE, WHAT WE’VE BEEN AND WHO WE ARE IS ONLY ONE OF US. LIKE NO ONE DOES IT LIKE WE DO IT HERE. AND I THINK YOU WOULDN’T EVEN KNOW THAT STORY IF YOU DIDN’T COME HERE. SO TO HAVE IT ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE IS ALTHOUGH THE NIGHT WAS TO EMPHASIZE THE SOUL OF THE CITY, YOLANDA ADAMS FEELS LIKE IT WAS ALSO A TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT WE RECENTLY ENDURED. YOU GUYS HAVE JUST HAD THIS MASSIVE TERRORIST ATTACK AND ALL OF THAT. AND SO NOW WE WANT TO SHOW NEW ORLEANS THAT MORE THAN EVER. WE’RE NOT GOING TO STOP COMING. WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE AFRAID. AS MANY FEEL THE SPIRIT OF THE CRESCENT CITY NATIVES WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW. NEW ORLEANS IS BUILT TO HOST, AND IT’S WHAT WE DO BEST. LET’S REAFFIRM, EMPHASIZE, AND SHOUT LOUD THAT THERE IS NO BETTER CITY. AND FORMER MAYOR MARC MORIAL SAID IT BEST. THERE IS NO BETTER CITY. I CAN TELL YOU. HERE AT THE SOULFUL CELEBRATION, THERE WERE STRICT SECURITY MEASURES IN PLACE, SEVERAL METAL DETECTORS, INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE. ALL THE THINGS WE’RE GOING TO SEE AROUND THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS THROUGHOUT THE SUPER BOWL WEEK TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. REPORTING LIVE FROM MAHALIA

Star-studded guests attend Super Bowl’s annual Soulful Celebration

The culture and energy of New Orleans were on full display for the many Super Bowl visitors during the 26th annual Soul Celebration.”It feels like home. Everyone is so nice here, so welcome, and the good hospitality, oh, I love New Orleans. I love New Orleans because of the people, the love,” said Actor Terry Crews.As many celebrities explore the Crescent City for the first time, others, including Rocsi Diaz, are excited to be home.”I’m home, I’m happy. I’m just here to make sure he has a good time,” said Diaz.New Orleans native Dawn Richard said it’s an honor for the city to host Super Bowl, highlighting the rich culture and vibrancy, some of which are created by her friend Queen Tahj.”People have no idea the story and the history of our indigenous culture. What we’ve been and who we are, there’s only one of us. No one does it like we do it here and you wouldn’t even know that story if you didn’t come here. To have that on the international stage is, chef’s kiss,” said Richard.Although the night was to emphasize the soul of the city, Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer Yolanda Adams felt like it was also a time to reflect on what we recently endured.”You guys have just had this massive terrorist attack and now we want to show New Orleans more than ever we are not going to stop coming, we’re not afraid,” said Adams.As many feel the spirit of the crescent city, natives want the world to know New Orleans is built to host, and it’s what we do best. “Let’s reaffirm, emphasize and shout loud. There is no better city,” said former Mayor of New Orleans Marc Morial.

NEW ORLEANS —

The culture and energy of New Orleans were on full display for the many Super Bowl visitors during the 26th annual Soul Celebration.

“It feels like home. Everyone is so nice here, so welcome, and the good hospitality, oh, I love New Orleans. I love New Orleans because of the people, the love,” said Actor Terry Crews.

As many celebrities explore the Crescent City for the first time, others, including Rocsi Diaz, are excited to be home.

“I’m home, I’m happy. I’m just here to make sure he has a good time,” said Diaz.

New Orleans native Dawn Richard said it’s an honor for the city to host Super Bowl, highlighting the rich culture and vibrancy, some of which are created by her friend Queen Tahj.

“People have no idea the story and the history of our indigenous culture. What we’ve been and who we are, there’s only one of us. No one does it like we do it here and you wouldn’t even know that story if you didn’t come here. To have that on the international stage is, chef’s kiss,” said Richard.

Although the night was to emphasize the soul of the city, Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer Yolanda Adams felt like it was also a time to reflect on what we recently endured.

“You guys have just had this massive terrorist attack and now we want to show New Orleans more than ever we are not going to stop coming, we’re not afraid,” said Adams.

As many feel the spirit of the crescent city, natives want the world to know New Orleans is built to host, and it’s what we do best.

“Let’s reaffirm, emphasize and shout loud. There is no better city,” said former Mayor of New Orleans Marc Morial.

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