Ellie Goulding Gearing Up For NFL Kickoff Concert

Ellie Goulding won’t just be performing at the NFL’s season kickoff concert. The British singer-songwriter will also be using it as an opportunity to learn more about American football.

“I know so little,” she said Tuesday during a phone interview after arriving in San Francisco. “I know the Super Bowl is being held here. I know that it’s a huge thing. See, sport is big in the U.K. I’m quite into the English version of football. I support Chelsea, but it’s on a whole difference scale here.”

Photo: Joel Ryan / Invision / AP

Wireless Festival, Finsbury Park, London, UK

Goulding and rock band Train are performing Thursday at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco’s Embarcadero district before the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

The concert is being held in San Francisco as part of the season-long celebration of Super Bowl 50, which will be hosted in the Bay Area on Feb. 7.

Other past performers at the NFL season opener have included Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, Usher, Keith Urban and Kid Rock.

“It’s still crazy to me that I get asked to do such incredible things,” said the “Love Me Like You Do” singer. “I feel like I’m still at that point where I’m excited to play an open mic night, so it’s a real honor.”

Goulding was among the performers rumored to be singing the theme song to the forthcoming James Bond film “Spectre.” However, Sam Smith revealed Tuesday that he would indeed be crooning the tune after previously suggesting Goulding was on tap for the gig.

“I don’t know why he said that,” said Goulding. “I’m happy for him. I root very much for other British artists. It’s a really special time for us. I had quite a lot of fun people thinking it was me, but I was never the one who started the rumor.”

Goulding recently finished work on her next album, which will be released in November. She said she’s pumped to perform new music as she continues touring and playing festivals, such as the Apple Music Festival in London on Sept. 19.

“My voice is just so much stronger now, so I’ve been able to experiment and do more powerful things with it.”

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