Following in the footsteps of greats like Whitney Houston and Chris Stapleton, Jon Batiste took center field at Caesars Superdome to get the Super Bowl festivities started. The genre-blending, GRAMMY-winning artist performed the national anthem ahead of Sunday’s (Feb. 9) matchup featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Making the occasion that much more special, Batiste, 38, grew up in the NOLA suburb of Kenner. The “Freedom” singer did New Orleans proud with his soulful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
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Jon Batiste Puts A New Orleans Spin on Super Bowl National Anthem Performance
Taking center field at Caesars Superdome ahead of Super Bowl LIX Sunday (Feb. 9,) Jon Batiste jazzed up the national anthem with a dose of authentic New Orleans soul The Juilliard grad displayed his multiple talents as he accompanied himself on piano.
“If Jon Batiste doesn’t sing at my funeral I’m not showing up,” one viewer wrote on X/Twitter.
JON MF BATISTE. Absolutely magical. #SuperBowl
— Chandler MacKenzie (@chandlermack) February 9, 2025
Hailing from a New Orleans musical dynasty, Batiste takes every opportunity to represent his hometown. And truly, music is the perfect mechanism to understand a city where the streets themselves seem to sing.
JON BATISTE??
— 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗬🫡❤️ (@Iamamanoa) February 9, 2025
Hell yessssssssss❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
“I think that music can really communicate deep, profound truth,” the “Cry” hitmaker said during a Super Bowl press conference sponsored by Apple Music. “And I believe that this country, in our songs, in our iconography, our messaging, our ideals… has a real important place as we negotiate and continue to redefine.”
There is perhaps no other place in the world whose people balance honoring their roots while still marching ever forward. That is the true spirit of New Orleans, and Batiste’s performance captured it perfectly.
“It’s Way Bigger Than Me”
If Jon Batiste appeared teary-eyed during his Super Bowl LIX national anthem performance, he was likely thinking of his grandfather, David Gauthier.
Gauthier, who died last March at the age of 90, was among the first wave of Black Americans to serve in the Navy. He also served as president of the Louisiana Postal Workers Union, which participated in the 1968 labor strike calling for higher wages and safer working conditions.
“Anything great about me, he was one of the blueprints of that,” said the Oscar winner.
He continued, “I think about a lot of people in my life who have represented what I believe this song is about and what it should be about at its highest aspirational level. So when I channel that, it makes it feel like it’s me, but it’s way bigger than me.”
Featured image by MIRIAM THEUS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock.
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