Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY

Who Is Singing The National Anthem At The Super Bowl 59? Super Bowl LIX National Anthem Artist

Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY

Super Bowl 59, a showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, is just around the corner. This year’s pregame lineup features Ledisi, a Grammy-winning singer, performing the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.“

This song was originally a poem by James Weldon Johnson, later set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson in 1905. The NAACP adopted it as its anthem in 1919. The NFL introduced it to Super Bowl pregame ceremonies in 2020 after the nationwide protests following George Floyd’s death.

Ledisi’s role in Super Bowl 59

Ledisi, born in New Orleans and raised in Oakland, will be joined by Jon Batiste, who will sing the official national anthem. Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty will perform “America the Beautiful.” Meanwhile, the Apple Music Halftime Show will feature Kendrick Lamar, with SZA as a special guest.

NFL fans call for Super Bowl boycott as officials announce 'Black National Anthem' to be sung before game https://t.co/lBvonV2nwv pic.twitter.com/v7wPbBrvJf
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) February 4, 2025

This marks another high-profile moment for Ledisi, who takes pride in her roots and her musical influences, particularly jazz and soul.

“Honored. ✨” Ledisi expressed in her Instagram post when she was announced as the Black national anthem singer in November.

Ledisi’s musical journey

Ledisi Anibade Young made her debut in 2000 with her album “Soulsinger” and followed it with “Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue” in 2002. She has since earned multiple awards, including a Grammy in 2020 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Anything for You.” In total, she’s been nominated 46 times across various awards and has won five honorary accolades.

She grew up immersed in music. Her mother, Nyra Dynese, was a soul singer, and her stepfather, Joseph Pierce III, was a drummer. Her biological father, Larry Saunders, and grandfather, blues artist Johnny Ace, also shaped her musical upbringing.

Ledisi’s influences include Nina Simone. In 2021, she released “Ledisi Sings Nina,” a jazz project performed with the Metropole Orkest and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. This earned her a 14th Grammy nomination.

Powerful: The NFL has announced that the black national anthem will be performed at this year's Super Bowl.

'Lift Every Voice and Sing' will be sung by Ledisi. pic.twitter.com/QbAZ2hoKTi
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 5, 2025

Jules Buckley, conductor of the Metropole Orkest, told The New York Times:
“She was able to shed a light on Nina’s work but not as an imitation, but as something fresh and new.”

Ledisi herself explained how Simone’s music saved her from a dark period:
“This project and this journey with Nina has just changed my life.”

Ledisi’s expanding career

Beyond music, Ledisi has acted in films like Selma and TV shows like POSE. She has also performed on Broadway and authored books, including “Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love and Power” and “Don’t Ever Lose Your Walk: How to Embrace Your Journey.”

Her business ventures include Fig Street Films, Chinweya Publishing, and Listen Back Entertainment/BMG. John Legend has praised her as one of the world’s greatest singers:
“In terms of her range, dexterity, clarity, and versatility, she can do anything she wants.”

This Super Bowl performance adds another milestone to her remarkable journey.

(Image- Imagn Images)

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