New Orleans native Jon Batiste took the field at the Caesars Super Dome in his hometown to perform the national anthem to kick off Super Bowl LIX. Much like today’s halftime headliner, Kendrick Lamar, Batiste won big at the Grammy Awards last weekend. He took home two trophies for American Symphony, a film he made with his wife Suleika Jaouad.
Videos by American Songwriter
Jaouad was also part of Batiste’s Super Bowl performance. While she wasn’t on the field with him, she painted the piano he played during his rendition of the national anthem. So, in a way, she was on the field with him making the moment a team effort. More than that, the original and striking arrangement showed millions why Batiste is counted among the world’s greatest musicians. .
Jon Batiste Wanted to Honor His Late Grandfather During His Super Bowl Performance
Ahead of his Super Bowl performance, Jon Batiste spoke to Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier. During their conversation, the Grammy-winning artist said he hoped to honor his late grandfather with his national anthem performance.
“I’m thinking a lot about my personal story and the story of this country and the story of how we can honor the best of us,” Batiste said when asked what he had planned for his performance. “My grandfather, in my life, he was one of my great mentors,” he added. “He was the best of this country. He served his country, he was the first wave of integrating the Navy, he was the first wave of many of our greatest achievements,” Batiste explained.
“He will see. He will be in the Other Realm and he will be with us. I believe that and I know that. He was so special because he left a legacy and not in the egotistical sense but in the sense of family and community and things that, even when he’s gone, are making people’s lives better,” Batiste said of his grandfather. “That’s what I want all of my performances to do, that’s what I want my music to do. To just really make everybody’s life better.”
“Just having that legacy in my family and the veterans in my family—the people who understand what it means to have freedoms and almost lose them. I’m singing for them and I’m singing for us and all of our collective love and healing that we need right now,” Batiste said.
Featured Image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.