Miss America singing in 83rd Macy's parade

Miss America 2009 Katie Stam has been invited to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This is the first time in nearly eight years that a Miss America has participated in the parade, preparing to step off for the 83rd time.

The parade will be broadcast live on NBC from 9 a.m. to noon. This year, the parade will move from its traditional march down Broadway to a new route along Seventh Avenue in New York City.

The parade will feature 1,500 dancers, cheerleaders, singers and performers; 15 giant character balloons; 800 clowns; 35 novelty or ornament balloons, balloonheads and balloonicles; 24 floats; 10 marching bands; and many celebrity performers, including Stam, a native of Jackson County.

Along with Stam, other performers in the parade include: Bello, Andrea Bocelli, Keke Palmer, Grandma and the cast of the “Big Apple Circus,” the cast of “Hair,” Boys Like Girls, DJ Lance Rock and the cast of “Yo Gabba Gabba,” Kermit the Frog and Tiffany Thornton, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, Sarah Hughes, Jane Krakowski, Ziggy Marley with Judah Marley, Mitchel Musso, The Pizzarelli Quartetand Jay Sean.

New balloons for 2009 are Sailor Mickey, Ronald McDonald, Spiderman and the Pillsbury Doughboy.