LOS ANGELES — The upcoming Super Bowl pregame festivities are set to feature a vibrant Louisiana touch, with versatile artist Jon Batiste taking the stage to deliver the national anthem. Additionally, renowned musicians Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle are scheduled to perform “America the Beautiful.” These performances will occur on February 9 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, ahead of the NFL championship game and a highly anticipated halftime show headlined by hip-hop sensation Kendrick Lamar.
“We are excited to collaborate with this year’s pregame acts to honor the deep musical heritage of New Orleans and the broader Louisiana area,” commented Seth Dudowsky, who oversees music for the NFL. Along with Batiste, celebrated singer Ledisi will present “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the pregame show, which will be broadcast on Fox. Notably, all featured performers hail from Louisiana, bringing a local flavor to the event.
Furthermore, the national anthem and “America the Beautiful” will be interpreted in American sign language by actress Stephanie Nogueras. The sign language performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” will be delivered by Otis Jones IV, while the halftime show will also feature Matt Maxey signing for the audience.
Both Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will take on the role of co-executive producers for the halftime spectacle. Batiste, who has won both Grammy and Oscar accolades, previously served as the bandleader for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” His documentary “American Symphony” has received a nomination for best music film, with his song “It Never Went Away” competing for best song written for visual media at the forthcoming Grammys. Batiste has made contributions to the score for Jason Reitman’s film “Saturday Night” and recently unveiled “Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1),” which reinterprets the masterpieces of the legendary German composer.
Renowned for his unique fusion of funk, soul, R&B, and rock, Trombone Shorty has secured a Grammy and has toured alongside prominent artists like Lenny Kravitz, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Foo Fighters. Meanwhile, Lauren Daigle has carved out a successful career as a contemporary Christian artist, earning two Grammys for her 2018 hit “You Say,” featured on her third studio album, “Look Up Child.” Ledisi, who won a Grammy for her single “Anything for You” in 2020, has also made her mark in film with appearances in productions such as “Leatherheads,” “Spinning Gold,” and the Oscar-nominated film “Selma.”