* Nothing says gridiron excitement quite like Idina Menzel! The Broadway thunderbolt has been tapped to perform the U.S. National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIX. The gig puts Menzel in the illustrious company of other talents that have sung the patriotic tune. Whitney Houston, Garth Brooks and Beyoncé have all tackled the anthem at football’s biggest game. (Kathy Lee Gifford has too, but that’s not quite as glamourous a thing to point out in these sorts of announcements.) Newly minted Golden Globe winner John Legend will also be singing in Glendale, Arizona. The “All of Me”; singer-songwriter is locked in to perform a rendition of “America The Beautiful”; at the mega-sized NFL spectacular. As you already know, Katy Perry will be providing this year’s halftime entertainment.
* Hooray for Dollywood! Country legend Dolly Parton has signed a development deal with NBC. The partnership includes strategizing a series of TV movies inspired by the “Jolene”; hitmaker. The chairman of the Peacock Network gave a hearty endorsement of the new pact. “I don’t know anyone in the world who doesn’t love Dolly Parton, and the idea of developing television movies inspired by her incredible life and the stories she has sung about for decades is exciting to all of us at NBC,”; declared Robert Greenblatt. Dolly says she’s aiming for projects that have a family audience in mind. [Deadline]
* Speaking of music legends with TV deals, Stevie Wonder is set to produce a miniseries and a musical based on The Underground Railroad for NBC. The U.S. network is optimistic the beloved talent might work on the musical’s score, but at the moment his role is strictly that of an executive producer. “We’re increasingly looking for projects that qualify as television events and these harrowing true stories of courageous young men and women who found love, in spite of the heinousness of slavery, certainly does that,”; said Robert Greenblatt when speaking about NBC’s pairing with Stevie Wonder. “Furthermore, the idea of also developing this into a Broadway musical with Stevie Wonder is very exciting as we look to expand the scope of our live stage business. We’re thrilled that these producers wanted to bring this important project to us.”; [Rolling Stone]