Get to Know Super Bowl LVI’s American Sign Language Artists Sandra Mae Frank, Warren ‘Wawa’ Snipe and Sean Forbes

Credit: Courtesy of Sean Forbes/Instagram

Get to Know Super Bowl LVI’s American Sign Language Artists Sandra Mae Frank, Warren ‘Wawa’ Snipe and Sean Forbes

Breaking barriers! Sandra Mae Frank, Warren “Wawa” Snipe and Sean Forbes are switching up the game — and making history — as ASL performers at Super Bowl LVI. Some viewers may be glued to their TVs as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow attempts to set a new record during the Sunday, February 13, game. If his team takes home the Lombardi Trophy, he will become the first athlete to win a Heisman Trophy, a college National Title and the Super Bowl. Other football fans are watching to see whether Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford can win his first Super Bowl after more than a decade in the NFL. (He was traded to from the Detroit Lions to the Rams in early 2021 ahead of the current season.) The star-studded festivities, however, won't stop when the players are in the locker rooms. In fact, musical performances by Mickey Guyton and Jhene Aiko will kick off the entire event on Sunday. Mary Mary, the gospel duo of sisters Erica and Tina Campbell, will also take the field pre-show to sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing.” [jwplayer pwFb5cxH-zhNYySv2] Frank, for her part, will have her time to shine as the ASL interpreter for each of the three pre-show performances. Midway through the game, fans will be treated to a massive treat when Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar heat up SoFi Stadium during the Pepsi Halftime Show. This year’s halftime presentation will also be an NFL first, as Wawa and Forbes will sign the rappers’ biggest hits beside them. “The doors to accessibility are busted wide open with something like this,” Forbes, 40, told the Detroit Free Press earlier this month. “This is very much a full-circle moment, being from Detroit, being part of the Eminem camp — or even going back to being 12 and listening to N.W.A., Dre and Snoop on my Walkman.” Scroll down to learn more about the ASL Super Bowl artists: [podcast_block]

Credit: Courtesy of Sean Forbes/Instagram

Get to Know Super Bowl LVI’s American Sign Language Artists Sandra Mae Frank, Warren ‘Wawa’ Snipe and Sean Forbes

Breaking barriers! Sandra Mae Frank, Warren “Wawa” Snipe and Sean Forbes are switching up the game — and making history — as ASL performers at Super Bowl LVI. Some viewers may be glued to their TVs as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow attempts to set a new record during the Sunday, February 13, game. If his team takes home the Lombardi Trophy, he will become the first athlete to win a Heisman Trophy, a college National Title and the Super Bowl. Other football fans are watching to see whether Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford can win his first Super Bowl after more than a decade in the NFL. (He was traded to from the Detroit Lions to the Rams in early 2021 ahead of the current season.) The star-studded festivities, however, won't stop when the players are in the locker rooms. In fact, musical performances by Mickey Guyton and Jhene Aiko will kick off the entire event on Sunday. Mary Mary, the gospel duo of sisters Erica and Tina Campbell, will also take the field pre-show to sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing.” [jwplayer pwFb5cxH-zhNYySv2] Frank, for her part, will have her time to shine as the ASL interpreter for each of the three pre-show performances. Midway through the game, fans will be treated to a massive treat when Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar heat up SoFi Stadium during the Pepsi Halftime Show. This year’s halftime presentation will also be an NFL first, as Wawa and Forbes will sign the rappers’ biggest hits beside them. “The doors to accessibility are busted wide open with something like this,” Forbes, 40, told the Detroit Free Press earlier this month. “This is very much a full-circle moment, being from Detroit, being part of the Eminem camp — or even going back to being 12 and listening to N.W.A., Dre and Snoop on my Walkman.” Scroll down to learn more about the ASL Super Bowl artists: [podcast_block]

Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Sandra Mae Frank

The Louisville, Kentucky, native will have three moments in the spotlight during the Super Bowl, including signing the National Anthem as country artist Guyton, 38, sings for fans. Frank will then perform alongside R&B musician Aiko, 33, as she sings “America the Beautiful.” She will cap off her time on the field by backing up Mary Mary.

“The news is out! See you all at #SuperBowl on Feb 13th!” Frank tweeted earlier this month. “Honored to sing in #ASL alongside with @MickeyGuyton and @JheneAiko 🤩🤗With @NAD1880 for their incredible support on this journey!”

Credit: Courtesy of Sandra Mae Frank/Instagram

Where You’ve Seen Her Before

The Kentucky School for the Deaf alum is also an actress best known for her film roles Soul to Keep, Multiverse and Season of Love. Frank has been playing Dr. Wilder on New Amsterdam since 2021.

Credit: Courtesy of Warren Snipe/Instagram

Warren “Wawa” Snipe

The deaf musician is one of two ASL performers taking the field during the Super Bowl halftime show. Wawa is an acclaimed recording artist, who has become a trailblazer with his “Dip Hop” niche, which he defines as “Hip Hop through deaf eyes,” according to the National Association of the Deaf.

Credit: Courtesy of Warren Snipe/Instagram

Why Football Fans May Recognize Him

Wawa made headlines in February 2021 after he wowed during his ASL rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and “America the Beautiful” at Super Bowl LV. His performance received more than 8 million views.

The Gallaudet University graduate has also been seen on TV, starring in four episodes of Black Lightning between 2018 and 2019.

Credit: Courtesy of Sean Forbes/Instagram

Sean Forbes

The Detroit native will sign alongside Wawa during the star-studded Pepsi Halftime Show. The musician is also known for cofounding D-PAN, The Deaf Professional Arts Network. The nonprofit helps to make music accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing community, creating American Sign Language interpretations of hit songs.

Credit: Courtesy of Sean Forbes/Instagram

Inside His Music Career

Forbes is a well-known hip-hop artist hailing from Michigan. While working with his long-time producer and collaborator Jake Bass, the duo have written more than 100 songs. The musician released his first full-length album, Perfect Imperfection, in 2012.

He has since dropped multiple singles, including “Two Blown Speakers” and “Hate.” Forbes released his second record, Little Victories, in February 2020.

Super Bowl LVI kicks off on NBC Sunday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m. ET.