
update: Claiming that she doesn't have enough time to prepare, Madonna 's manager said yesterday (1/11) that the diva has scrapped plans to appear in the Jan. 30 Super Bowl XXXIV pre-game show saluting "Great American Music of the 20th Century." Madonna was to have debuted her latest single, a cover of Don McLean's "American Pie."
''After meeting with Madonna in London we agreed that due to her recording schedule there is simply not sufficient time to put all the elements in place that are required to deliver a performance on the level of Super Bowl excellence,'' her manager, Caresse Norman, said in a statement.
''I am sorry that I will not be able to join all the great entertainers who will be performing on Super Bowl Sunday,'' Madonna said in a statement. ''My sincere apologies to the NFL, ABC-TV, as well as my fans. I look forward to the possibility of doing something with the NFL in the future.''
The pre-game show, hosted by the Smothers Brothers, is still scheduled to feature performances by Tina Turner and Travis Tritt.