NBC Universal has announced that singer Kelly Clarkson and NFL legend Peyton Manning will join Mike Tirico in hosting the opening ceremony coverage of the upcoming Paris Olympics this summer. The live broadcast will air on July 26 at noon ET on NBC and Peacock.
Manning, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who won two Super Bowls during his 18-season career, expressed his excitement about the opportunity.
“I’m extremely honored to have a front row seat,” he said. “Kelly and I are both fans of the athletes and the opening ceremony of years past. I think there’ll be a lot of emotions for these athletes.”
Clarkson, a three-time Grammy and multi-Emmy winner, currently hosts NBC’s talk show “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” She also hosted the NFL Honors last year.
Tirico, who will be hosting his fourth opening ceremony, believes that Clarkson and Manning will do well in their new roles.
The trio will be positioned at the Trocadero near the ceremony’s finish, with views of the Seine River and Eiffel Tower.
“Our goal and desire is for Peyton and Kelly to be Peyton and Kelly. Just be who they are,” Tirico said.
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics will be held during sunset along the Seine, with about 10,500 athletes parading through the heart of the French capital on boats. This marks the first time an Olympic opening ceremony will be held outside a stadium setting.
“Today” show hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb will be stationed together on a bridge along the route, reporting on the pageantry of the ceremony as the athletes sail by.
Molly Solomon, executive producer and president of NBC Olympics Production, called them a “compelling combination.”
“They’re going to be taking in the athlete boat parade from one of the bridges, where all the fans will be watching,” Solomon said. “They’re really going to contribute from a very unique perspective. They’ll be watching the ceremony as the fans do. It’ll be a great experience.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.