In the pivotal Week 5 NFL matchup this Sunday, the New Orleans Saints (0-4) will look to secure their first victory of the season against the New York Giants (1-3) at the Caesars Superdome.

The game will carry major weight for both the struggling teams, as the Saints are coming off a heartbreaking loss against the Bills, and the Giants are riding high after their first victory. But before the kickoff, the Grammy-winning “Soul Queen,” Irma Thomas, will take the center stage to perform the national anthem.

Who Is Grammy-Winning Artist Irma Thomas?

Born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, Irma Thomas had an inspiring music career that spanned over six decades. Because of her songs, achievements, and career, she was also named ‘Soul Queen of New Orleans’. Back in 2007, she won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for “After the Rain”. She is also a proud member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Starting her career as a part of the Baptist church choir, she went on to release her first single, “Don’t Mess with My Man,” in 1959. Her first 4 Imperial singles were a big hit, and they all charted on Billboard’s pop chart.

In 2018, she got the Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance at the Americana Music Honors & Awards. She has more than 36 singles and 32 albums to her name. Even at the age of 84, she remains active and released her album “Audience with the Queen” in 2025.

How NFL Pay Works: What Irma Thomas Might Be Earning

According to sources (unconfirmed), Irma Thomas charges $15,000-$24,999 per show. But that will not be the case when she sings the national anthem for the NFL game.

As per NFL tradition, Irma Thomas won’t receive an appearance fee for her national anthem performance. The NFL pays the performers’ union scale, as per Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s vice president of communications, who revealed how the payment for performers works in a 2022 Newsweek interview.

Apart from this, the NFL covers the costs of production, hotel fees, and travel to remove artists’ overhead expenses.

But it’s not the fee that matters for the singers; it’s the exposure that they get through their performance. For example, Usher didn’t get any appearance fee for his 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show. However, his Spotify streams increased by 550 percent in the US alone. This is the main reason why even great artists agree to perform in NFL games at nominal fees.

The Career Impact: What This Means for Irma

Irma Thomas doesn’t need an introduction, as she is a household name, and most people are likely familiar with her. But her six-decade-long career might get the necessary boost after she performs at the Caesars Superdome in front of more than 70,000 fans in the stadium.

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She will also be viewed by millions watching on their screen, and this will obviously lead to fans again searching for her. This will lead to spikes in Apple Music Plays, YouTube views, and Spotify streams. Even her latest album, “Audience with the Queen,” which averages around 4k views per song on YouTube, might finally get the viewership it deserves.

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However, the exposure Thomas will gain through this performance won’t be confined just to the fans. Short clips of NFL performances spread quickly on digital platforms and become viral overnight. Also, such power-packed games are attended by celebrities and potential connections, which can further lead to who knows- the next Grammy-winning album signing deal for Thomas.