While fans shared their excitement for a showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Christian singer Lauren Daigle prepares to perform. Although the halftime show will feature Kendrick Lamar, Daigle received the chance to perform “America the Beautiful” at the pregame show. Seeing the opportunity as a special moment in her career, the singer recalled almost being canceled when New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell took aim at her for performing at Sean Feucht’s Let Us Worship tour.
The controversy started back in 2020 when Daigle performed during the prayer service ceremony that was led by Feucht. Although a Christian event, the Mayor took issue with the singer given the event also protested many of the restrictions put on citizens during the pandemic. While only a few hundred people showed up to the event, it was more than enough to cause Cantrell to react.
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After Daigle’s performance, Cantrell wrote a letter to the producers of Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve to ask them to ban the singer from the event. Releasing her own statement, Daigle said she was “disappointed that my spontaneous participation has become part of the political discourse, and I’m saddened by the divisive agendas of these times.”
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Appearing on the Arroyo Grande podcast, Daigle looked back on the moment and how much she grew over the years. “To get this moment years later, I would say for anybody watching that has had their reputations smeared in any sort of way and they are just waiting for the moment of vindication, sometimes it only takes five years.”
While the Mayor took issue with Daigle and didn’t want her to perform during the New Year’s event, Daigle admitted she never received an offer. “I would have been, and still would be, honored to represent our city on New Year’s Eve, and although I was aware of discussions regarding my involvement, an offer was never made.”
Outside of Daigle recalling the tension, she looked to the present and getting the chance to sing in New Orleans. “I’m excited. It’s going to be a beautiful opportunity for us to showcase what New Orleans represents, and the culture, and the beauty of unity in music.” She continued, “New Orleans has seen some trying times recently. To be able to offer a sound of hope for people in this city, to sing out over the city and from the city into the rest of the world, is going to be one of my favorite things, maybe ever.”
(Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)