The Super Bowl got off to a touching start on Sunday as the Sandy Hook Elementary School Choir and Jennifer Hudson joined forces to sing "America the Beautiful."
The stirring rendition started off with just the children, who swayed in beat with the simple song. Eventually, Hudson took the stage and helped the young ones finish the song. Judging by the reaction of a number of football players on the field, those in the stadium were certainly affected by the performance.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Thursday that the Grammy and Oscar-winning singer would join the Sandy Hook chorus. It features 26 children from the school in Newtown, Conn., where 20 first-graders and six adults were killed in a Dec. 14 shooting rampage.
The performance will be part of CBS's pre-game show before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, and will be broadcast live. Alicia Keys will sing the national anthem.
Children who survived the shooting rampage also recorded a version of "Over the Rainbow" to raise money for charity. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Western Connecticut and the Newtown Youth Academy.
Here's another photo of Hudson and the choir, followed by a gallery of Super Bowl performers:
