Tragedy in Glendale

A terrible tragedy occured on Sunday, February 3, 2008 during the pre-game ceremonies for Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona. Willie Nelson performed for a NFL-sponsored pre-game tailgate party, singing a duet with Sara Evans of his song "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" as part of FOX's pre-game show. This year's Super Bowl entertainment had many connections to FOX's series American Idol. On August 16, both the NFL and FOX confirmed that Idol host Ryan Seacrest would serve as emcee for the pre-game show, with Alicia Keys as the primary performer; as she sung a medley of her songs, including... "Go Ahead", "Fallin'", "If I Ain't Got You", "Teenage Love Affair", and "No One" as the final performance. Then came the terrible tragic event that would shock Glendale and the entire nation. American Idol season six winner Jordin Sparks, herself a native of Glendale and the daughter of former New York Giants quarterback Phillippi Sparks, was performing the National Anthem. While Jordin was performing the National Anthem, five members of a terrorist group known as Black October snuck into the University of Phoenix Stadium and captured Jordin. The terrorists demanded that the United States release Arab prisoners or they would kill Jordin Sparks. President George W. Bush, the elected leader of the United States of America, refused the demands of the terrorists to release the Arab prisoners. So the terrorists executed Jordin Sparks.