Lewisville woman will sign national anthem at Super Bowl
By ERIC AASEN
Staff Writer
Published 04 February 2011
During Sunday’s Super Bowl, while the stars are singing, Candice Villesca
will be signing.
The Lewisville woman, who was born deaf, will sign the national anthem and
“America the Beautiful” at Cowboys Stadium.
Villesca, 22, says it is an honor.
“I believe I will feel real proud to put efforts into signing … to provide
entertainment for the deaf audience,” she wrote in an e-mail.
The songs are known to be difficult to sing. They’re tough to sign, too.
“Those songs are very complicated with several lines that are interpreted
differently,” Villesca said.
The NFL worked with the National Association of the Deaf to find a sign
language performer. Villesca, who was 2 when she first learned sign
language, submitted an audition tape featuring her signing both songs.
This week, Villesca has practiced signing and studied lyrics. On Saturday,
she’ll practice with Christina Aguilera, who’s performing the anthem, and
Lea Michele, who’s singing “America the Beautiful.”
To prepare for her time in the spotlight, Villesca says she’s trying to
imagine “being in the middle of everything.”
While she’s been getting ready, she’s been posting updates on her Twitter
page.
“Practice hard and hard.”
“Wow I’m in SuperBowl Wikipedia!!!!!”
“Omg … I’m sooo excited.”
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