Oscar-winning singer, songwriter, and composer Jon Batiste and Grammy winner Ledisi will participate in the pregame festivities for Super Bowl LIX.
Ledisi will sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and Batiste will perform the national anthem before the big game on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Both artists are New Orleans natives.
“Honored,” wrote Ledisi on social media for an official NFL poster featuring her as a performer.
In a separate post, Batiste captioned, “Music is the ultimate unifier. Coming home for National Anthem-Batiste xo @nfl @rocnation #SBLIX.”
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Also on the pregame lineup are Trombone Shorty and Grammy-winning singer Lauren Daigle, who will perform “America the Beautiful.”
“We’re honored to work with this year’s pregame lineup to celebrate the rich musical legacy of New Orleans and the entire state,” says Seth Dudowsky, head of music at the NFL.
Dudowsky adds, “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.”
Rap giant Kendrick Lamar, who recently released a surprise album, GNX, will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, which was announced in September.
Lamar previously performed in February 2022 alongside Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent, who all won an Emmy for that performance.
Returning to Batiste, he put out his last studio album, World Music Radio, in August 2023. Guests on the Grammy-nominated album include Lil Wayne, Kenny G, Lana Del Ray, Leigh-Anne, Native Soul, and more.
On Nov. 15, Batiste released Beethoven Blues, an all-piano album that reimagines classics by Ludwig van Beethoven and includes original pieces inspired by Batiste’s early experiences in local piano competitions.
Batiste said of the album, “For each work on the album, the starting point was one of Beethoven’s original compositions. From there, I created something new at the piano, in real time. Spontaneous composition is a practice that’s all but lost in classical music, which can sometimes feel overly canonized.”
“Recording this album was a deeply spiritual experience. It allowed me to honor Beethoven’s transcendent artistry while bringing his work into dialogue with my own creative journey,” added Batiste.
Ledisi released her second album, Good Life, under her Listen Back imprint in partnership with BMG in March. The album was preceded by the single “I Need To Know,” which topped Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart for two consecutive weeks in 2023.
In addition to “I Need To Know,” other singles from Good Life include “Sell Me No Dreams” and “Perfect Stranger,” featuring Kenny Lattimore. The latter duet has reached No. 13 on the Adult R&B chart so far.
“Good Life is a celebration of life’s joy, love, and resilience,” Ledisi explained to Rated R&B. “It captures unique moments in a musical journey that mirrors the human experience. Join me in finding beauty in our shared humanity through every note and lyric.”
Ledisi remains in the music mix, collaborating with October London (October Nights) and Eric Benét (Duets) for their respective albums and projects.
