The good times rolled in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. Football fans converged on the city to witness the historic match-up between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs and quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes. However, the big game wasn’t the only draw, with many looking forward to the musical talent that also hit the field at Caesars Superdome. Of course, everyone was tuned in to Kendrick Lamar’s electrifying halftime show, but Ledisi was the one to kick off the festivities with her rousing pregame performance of the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice And Sing.”
The NOLA native was joined by a group of 125 students from the Greater New Orleans High School Chorale Collective to commemorate the 125th anniversary of James Weldon Johnson’s poetic hymn. Ledisi stood on a small round stage on the artificial turf dressed in a fetching all-white suit with a floor-length skirt attached at the waist. She radiated confidence with a dazzling smile before launching into the song.
Led had the Superdome sounding like ESSENCE Fest with her soulful vocals. Her rendition was both graceful and powerful, culminating in a stunning big finish. She rose to the occasion and was meant for this moment.
Ledisi’s “Lift Every Voice And Sing” performance wasn’t met without controversy, unfortunately. Loud and wrong right-wingers complained that having the Black national anthem sung at Super Bowl LIX encouraged segregation and urged a boycott of the game. The NFL, which has a majority of Black players, didn’t fold to pressure from conservatives and carried on as planned, marking the fourth year the Black national anthem was sung as a part of the Super Bowl’s pregame entertainment. Previously performed by Mary Mary at Super Bowl LVI, Sheryl Lee Ralph at Super Bowl LVII and Andra Day at Super Bowl LVIII last year, Ledisi now joins that esteemed roster and has set the bar high.
Watch Ledisi’s uplifting rendition of “Lift Every Voice And Sing” from Super Bowl LIX right here or on YouTube. Look out for more from the GRAMMY Award-winner. She has a new single “Love You Too” with another entitled “BLKWMN” on the way and will set out on her Love You Too Tour with Marsha Ambrosius this spring and summer.
