FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Shawn Warmstein Orange Bowl Committee [email protected] December 30, 2012 305-444-3383

FORMER FINALIST AYLA BROWN TO SING “” DURING THE DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

BROWN TO JOIN JAKE OWEN, XENIA AND FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE AS PERFORMERS AT 2013 DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL ON NEW YEARS DAY

Miami Lakes, Fla. (www.orangebowl.org) – Adding to the tradition of one of college football’s premier bowl games, former American Idol finalist, Ayla Brown, will sing “God Bless America” during the Discover Orange Bowl Countdown to Kickoff. Brown joins platinum recording singer-songwriter Jake Owen, who will headline the Discover Halftime Show, while Xenia, participant on NBC’s hit show “The Voice,” will perform the National Anthem at the 2013 Discover Orange Bowl on January 1, 2013 at Sun Life Stadium. Country duo Florida Georgia Line will also be the lead act at the Bud Light Game Day Fan Zone.

Country music singer/songwriter Ayla Brown, whose new patriotic single “Pride of America” releases this week, has opened for such leading country acts like Josh Turner, , Charlie Daniels Band, and will soon be opening for music super group Lady Antebellum. Ayla has pursued a diverse range of endeavors over the span of the last six years that include being an American Idol finalist, recording artist of four albums, national and local performances, devoted philanthropic and charitable work, serving as a National Anthem singer for the , and being a national news correspondent for The Early Show on CBS from February 2010-February 2012. Brown also played NCAA Division 1 college basketball for the Eagles, member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The 2013 Discover Orange Bowl, to be held on January 1, 2013 at 8:00 p.m., will feature the ACC Champion #12 Florida State Seminoles against the #15 Northern Illinois Huskies. Both the Discover Orange Bowl and Discover Halftime Show will be broadcast by ESPN. For tickets, log on to www.orangebowl.org or call 305-341-4702. Discover card members can visit DiscoverOrangeBowl.com for access to premium tickets and an exclusive Orange Bowl experience.

For the eighth consecutive year, Miami’s eminent production company, ACT Productions, will be producing the entertainment elements of Pre-Game and Halftime.

To volunteer through the Orange Bowl Ambassador Program presented by Panera Bread, and with the Discover Halftime Show, please log on to http://www.orangebowl.org/about-us/join-the-team/ambassadors/ and use the registration link.

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About the Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl is a 348-member, primarily-volunteer non-profit sports organization that promotes and serves the South Florida community. The Orange Bowl Festival features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the Discover Orange Bowl on January 1, 2013 and the Discover BCS National Championship on January 7, 2013. Other Orange Bowl core events include the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance presented by Sports Authority, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships, Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series and Orange Bowl Paddle Championships. For more information on the 2012-13 Orange Bowl Festival and its events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, log on to www.orangebowl.org.