ESPN and the CFP said that a musical guest will "perform at halftime of this season's title game" in Atlanta on Jan. 8, and the performance "will be aired on ESPN," according to Ralph Russo of the AP. The concert will be "held in Centennial Olympic Park, near the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium." An artist has "not yet been booked, but ESPN is taking the lead on securing what it hopes will be an A-list performer with broad appeal." The marching bands for each participating school will "still perform in the stadium at halftime of the national title game and that performance will be aired on an ESPN channel to be determined as part of the network's megacast." Fans without tickets to the game will be able to "watch the game and attend the concert in Centennial Park for free" (AP, 5/15). CBSSPORTS.com's Adam Silverstein wrote the CFP has a "lot to live up to if it wants to hire a Super Bowl-level A-list star." Headlining halftime of the Super Bowl over the past few years have been Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Madonna (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/15).
