One year ago, Hollywood and Broadway mourned “Hello, Dolly!” star Carol Channing, who died on Jan. 15, 2019 at age 97 — including one surprising performance for a nationwide audience.
Many NFL fans are probably not aware that Channing was the first celebrity performer for a Super Bowl halftime show in 1970 when the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings, 23-7, in Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
Despite her many accolades, including a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Channing wasn’t the main focus of the Super Bowl IV halftime show, with it mostly being centered around the Southern University marching band performing a tribute to Mardi Gras and a reenactment of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans.