When Athletes Sing: The 'Super Bowl Shuffle' And Other Greatest Hits

It was almost 30 years ago that the Chicago Bears had a legendary season – winning 15 games, crushing the Patriots at the Super Bowl – and, of course, releasing their huge rap hit, "The Super Bowl Shuffle." In perhaps the weirdest turn of events ever, the Bears that year became the first-ever American professional sports team to ever have a hit single… or a rap video… or a Grammy nomination.

Well, if that’s not weird enough for you, how about this: now, 29 years later, radio host Sean Cannon of WFPK in Louisville, Kentucky, has produced an all-star cover of the "Shuffle' -- featuring artists as diverse as My Morning Jacket’s Jim James and the internet-famous cat Lil Bub. We talk with Sean about this rather unusual collaborative effort -- and about the history of the original song.

(Take a listen to Sean's new Super Bowl Shuffle cover below.)

Plus: We revisit a conversation that we had with NPR sports correspondent Mike Pesca about other examples of athletes taking a shot at a musical career -- from Serena Williams' "leaked" rap, to Manny Pacquiao's soft rock balladry.