This year’s Sugar Bowl was charged with emotion that transcends the competition on the field.
No. 2 seed Georgia competed against No. 7 seed Notre Dame in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on Thursday afternoon at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
This game comes 36 hours after an armed man drove a pickup truck through Bourbon Street in New Orleans, resulting in at least 14 deaths and over 30 injuries in what the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism.
This tragedy led to the postponement of the Sugar Bowl, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday night.
However, the game proceeded at 4 p.m. ET, and the pregame performance of the National Anthem resonated deeply given the recent events in New Orleans.
Bowl officials announced last week that New Orleans native Samyra, a rising star in the music industry, will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Here’s what else you should know about Samyra:
How old is Samyra?
Samyra Miller is 26 years old, as stated in the Sugar Bowl media release that announced her performance of the National Anthem at the 2025 game.
Where did Samyra go to college?
Samyra Miller’s rise as a musician and content creator began during her time as a student at Harvard. She shared with BET last year that she was the music director for the “Harvard LowKeys” a cappella group.
The 2021 graduate also maintained a popular Instagram account among her peers, which the Harvard Gazette referred to as the “go-to source for all things Harvard in 2020,” particularly when students were sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Samyra’s star rose through TikTok
After college, Samyra’s musical career took off as she gained popularity on TikTok as a content creator and body positivity influencer.
Today, she boasts over 2.2 million followers on TikTok and an additional 459,000 on Instagram.
Her breakthrough performance came with a cover of “Supermodel” from the movie “Clueless,” which landed her an appearance on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” in February 2023.
Over the past year, she released her most popular song, “Plus-Size Freestyle,” showcasing her unique blend of R&B, rap, and pop, all while promoting a message of body positivity.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.