Continuing the annual tradition, Super Bowl 59 will kick off with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem by a Grammy-winning artist. The tradition is a testament to the game’s more-than-just-football legacy and its cultural significance, and who better to showcase it than a singer from Louisiana, where this year’s game is being played?
While the famed halftime show will feature Kendrick Lamar, let’s take a look at the Louisiana artist who is taking the honor of singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl in 2025 and his possible link-up with the Pulitzer-winning rapper.
Who Is Performing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 2025?
Jon Batiste, a native of Metairie, Louisiana, will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl 59. He is a multi-talented artist who works in the jazz, pop, and R&B genres and has vowed to make sure his performance stands the “test of time.”
Batiste, a five-time Grammy Award-winning artist with 22 nominations, shared his preparations for the national anthem performance in an interview with Entertainment Tonight and said he would finalize his arrangement a week before the Super Bowl.
“I’m excited to figure out an arrangement that will last the test of time, and I look forward to sharing it. The week before is when I’ll just finally start to finalize it and then it’s gonna fly.”
The 38-year-old is fresh off the success of his Beethoven Blues album, which earned him his first No.1 on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart. Better known for his compositions, Batiste said performing at the Super Bowl is a dream for him.
“You have a dream and a vision and then sometimes it’s blessed to be a reality. And it’s going to feel like a party that has so much meaning and community and love,” he said
The singing of the national anthem is part of the NFL’s pregame entertainment for its showpiece game, and Batiste will be joined by a star-studded lineup of Trombone Shorty, Lauren Daigle, and Ledisi. The announcement was made on Thanksgiving Day by the league, and the head of music at the NFL, Seth Dudowski, said the quartet would honor the rich music scene of New Orleans.
“We’re honored to work with this year’s pregame lineup to celebrate the rich musical legacy of New Orleans and the entire state.
“The Super Bowl is a rare moment to unite fans around the world, and this year’s performers will bring the energy, soul, and vibrant sounds of the region to a global stage, as we kickoff Super Bowl LIX with a celebration to remember.”
While Shorty and Daigle will perform “America the Beautiful,” Ledisi will light up the Caesars Superdome with a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
In addition to the pregame entertainment, Super Bowl 59 will feature a halftime performance by Kendrick Lamar and guest performer SZA, and Batiste is keeping mum about whether he will join the duo.
“You know, I always try to keep things close to the vest,” he replied when asked if he had connected with the Pulitzer-winning rapper, and added that it was all about the “togetherness.”
