MCPE crashes after automatically signing into Microsoft Xbox Live

I was playing and then decided to sign in to Microsoft/Xbox Live and invite my kid. After we tried (& failed) to connect, MCPE closes immediately after the auto sign in to Microsoft occurs. I have tried shutting off the phone completely and closing the MC app completely. Also tried deleting the Microsoft app and reloading it. Nothing works. I can only assume it has something to do with the MCPE connection to Microsoft/XboxLive. The picture attached is what it looks like just before it closes the app.