This year’s Sugar Bowl promises to be charged with emotion beyond just the game when the No. 2 seeded Georgia faces the No. 7 seeded Notre Dame in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans this Thursday afternoon.

The kickoff is set to happen roughly 36 hours after a tragic event where an armed individual drove a pickup through Bourbon Street in New Orleans, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 people and injuries to over 30. The FBI is treating this incident as a potential act of terrorism, which led to the rescheduling of the Sugar Bowl, initially planned for Wednesday night.

Despite the circumstances, the game is set to start at 4 p.m. ET, and the National Anthem performance is sure to resonate deeply, given the city’s recent tragedy. Bowl officials announced that New Orleans’ own Samyra, a rising star in music, will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Here’s more about Samyra before her performance at the 2025 Sugar Bowl featuring Georgia and Notre Dame:

How Old is Samyra?

Samyra Miller is currently 26 years old, as indicated in the Sugar Bowl’s announcement regarding her performance.

Where Did Samyra Attend College?

Samyra’s journey as a musician and content creator began during her time at Harvard. She shared in an interview with BET that she was the music director for the “Harvard LowKeys” a capella group. A 2021 alumni, she also cultivated a popular Instagram following while at Harvard, called the “go-to source for all things Harvard” in 2020 when students left due to the pandemic, according to the Harvard Gazette.

Samyra Gained Fame on TikTok

Samyra’s musical career truly blossomed after she became a well-known TikTok creator and body positivity advocate post-college. She now boasts over 2.2 million followers on TikTok and another 459,000 on Instagram. Her breakthrough performance came with a cover of “Supermodel” from the film “Clueless,” which led to an appearance on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” in February 2023.

Her most popular release to date, “Plus-Size Freestyle,” showcases her unique blend of R&B, rap, and pop while promoting a message of body positivity.

Samyra Attributes Her Roots to New Orleans

Born in New Orleans, Samyra reflects on how Hurricane Katrina impacted her childhood and influenced her connection to music. Her family relocated to Texas after the hurricane, and she participated in her new school’s talent show soon after arriving. Initially, she trained in classical singing.

“I always say that New Orleans taught me that I can do and be anything because the city embodies a free spirit. It allows people to express themselves without shame,” Samyra stated in a BET interview last May. “Even just walking through the French Quarter, you’ll see people dancing and drumming on buckets. Everyone is always finding ways to show their joy, and that’s the most beautiful aspect of my city.”

Samyra Comes From a Football Family

Samyra’s father, Bobby Miller, played football for LSU, while she herself played defensive tackle on her high school team. She and her sister often performed the National Anthem at Lusher High School (New Orleans) games, and Samyra humorously relayed, “the fun party trick was that I would sing the anthem, then run out of the booth in my shoulder pads and helmet to join the game.”