“Rockin’ Country Sunday” at the Super Bowl
On January 30, 1994, Super Bowl XXVIII was played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. It featured two outstanding teams that won their specific events. The Dallas Cowboys represented the NFC while the Buffalo Bills represented the AFC. The Dallas Cowboys were able to handle the Buffalo Bills leading the team to win their fourth Super Bowl as a franchise.
Super Bowl XXVII didn’t just feature outstanding teams and athletes but it also featured outstanding Country artists. The Halftime show in every Super Bowl is always special. Half time shows display a great production that has been planned months prior to the Super Bowl featuring known artists.
Super Bowl XXVII featured some of the biggest country music stars at that time. Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and Wynona Judd rallied their performances on stage that later on included the special appearance of Naomi Judd. The Judds led the singing of their single, “Love Can Build A Bridge” as the show’s finale act.
It’s been more than twenty years since this magnificent act. Maybe it’s about time to call for another Country Super Bowl.
Performers During the Historic 1994 Super Bowl
Clint Black
According to Black’s father, Clint was drawn into several musical genres before finally choosing to focus on doing country music. Clint was drawn to country in the late ‘80s after known country singers such as George Strait and Reba McEntire revived the traditional sound of country. Black started his performing career as a solo singer and guitarist that sang in various lounges.
For six years he was working as a construction worker, bait cutter and as a fishing guide to go along with his startup career as a performer. In 1987, Black was able to meet Hayden Nicholas, a guitarist as well, in one of his gigs. Both of them shared a special connection with music that resulted in a songwriting partnership that lasted for decades.
Black’s career in the music industry kicked-off as he signed with RCA and released his first album in 1989. His first album entitled “Killin’ Time” gained a huge success commercially, as it peaked all the way to the top of the Billboards Country Albums. This was the first time in 14 years, since “A Better Man,” that a debut by a male artist has placed first in the charts.
Four of the songs were directly accredited to be Black’s own writing while the remaining songs were collaborations with Nichols. Five of the songs from his debut album also peaked at number one. This allowed Black to claim the County Music Association’s Horizon Award for the best comer in 1989.
Tanya Tucker
Tanya tucker became a teen sensation as she entered the music industry in 1972. She was discovered by Mel Tillis. Tillis was really impressed by the talent Tucker has and invited her to perform on stage. Later on, this caught the attention of Billy Sherrill who signed the teenage vocalist with Columbia Records.
Tucker went on and released her debut single entitled “Delta Town.” Columbia Records would like to cover up the real age of Tucker, but the information had leaked out that led Tucker to become a teenage sensation at that time. But it was until her third single “What’s Your Mama’s Name” that gained her the first number one hit in her career that was followed by her other top hits “Blood Red and Goin’ Down” and “Would You Lay With Me {In a Field of Stone).” This solidified Tucker’s credential as a star in the Country Music Industry.
Travis Tritt
Tritt started his musical career as he signed with Warner Bros. to record six songs which included three singles. The contract stated that Tritt won’t be signed for a full album unless one of the three singles became a hit. But Tritt proved that he was worthy of a full album contract making noise with his first single entitled “County Club” that spent 26 weeks on the Hot Country Single and Tracks chart and peaked at number nine. His second single “ Help Me Hold On” became Tritt’s first number-one single in 1990 that was followed by his two single “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” and “Drift Off to Dream,” that peaked at numbers two and three respectively.
Wynonna and Naomi
Wynonna and Naomi, also known as The Judds, signed with RCA Records in 1983. The duo charted 23 hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts and 14 of those were number one hits. With only the span of six years, the Judds were able to produce eight studio albums, one Christmas album, and two Greatest Hits Compilation. They also sold more than 20 million records worldwide and had won over 60 awards. This included five Grammy Nominations, nine Country Music Association Awards (which they won seven consecutive awards) and eight Billboard Music Awards.