FOXBORO, Mass. – The NFL (search) on Monday announced its entertainment lineup for the first football game of the season, promising no repeat of the breast-baring performance by Janet Jackson (search) that created an uproar after the Super Bowl. (search)
The pre-game show for the Sept. 9 contest between the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts will feature Elton John, Destiny's Child (search), Mary J. Blige and Lenny Kravitz (search), league officials said.
Pop singer Jessica Simpson (search) will also appear in a segment taped at a concert venue in Jacksonville, Fla., the site of the next Super Bowl.
The league canceled its original plans for an opening-day show after Jackson exposed her breast during a Super Bowl halftime performance in February seen by millions of television viewers.
In the past, those shows featured bands such as Jon Bon Jovi (search) and Aerosmith performing in large public venues like Times Square. But this year's event will focus on football and take place in a football stadium, said Brian McCarthy, an NFL spokesman.
League officials also plan to closely monitor rehearsals and preparations for the show, a change from the Super Bowl performance, which was produced by MTV.
"We'll control all facets of their performances, including song selection, choreography and, yes, wardrobe selection," McCarthy said. "We're very comfortable that we have the right procedures in place."
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