Singer and actress Queen Latifah and soul legend Bill Withers are now part of television history. Sunday’s (February 7) Super Bowl game between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts – which the Saints won 31-17 – set a new all-time U.S. ratings high, besting the 27-year-old record held by the final episode of “M*A*S*H.” It drew 106.5 million viewers, smashing Super Bowl records and edging out 1983’s “M*A*S*H” finale, which had 105.97 million viewers.

The numbers are from Nielsen via CBS Sports.

Latifah sang “America the Beautiful” before Carrie Underwood’s version on the National Anthem. Withers’ was not involved in the festivities, but his song “Ain’t No Sunshine” was heard in an ad for the Dante’s Inferno video. The song was featured on Withers’ 1971 album “Just As I Am.” The Grammy Award-winning song went to No. 3 on the pop charts that year.

Viewership was up 8 percent from 2009’s Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals game, which was seen by a then-record 98.7 million viewers. 

(Smooth Jazz Network)

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