As the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles warmed up before kickoff, singer Lauren Daigle took to the field to perform “America the Beautiful.” Although many looked to the Super Bowl to watch the teams try and make history, the event has become a stage for rising stars, iconic singers, and bands that have stood the test of time. But before Kendrick Lamar grabbed the spotlight for his halftime performance, Daigle covered the patriotic classic alongside Trombone Shorty.
Videos by American Songwriter
With the Super Bowl welcoming over 100 million viewers to watch the matchup, each performer stood in front of the largest crowd of their careers. There seemed to be no bigger stage than the Super Bowl. Although the venue can hold only so many people, the wide grasp that comes with the NFL includes millions and millions of fans. But even with the pressure at an all-time high, nothing could stop Daigle and Shorty from showcasing both talent and class.
Online, fans loved watching Shorty command the song. Over the musician’s career, he collaborated with numerous stars like Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, Zac Brown, the Foo Fighters, and even Ringo Starr. And although loving the chance to perform at the Super Bowl, Shorty was born and grew up in New Orleans. Getting the chance to showcase his talents in front of his hometown was not lost on the famed musician.
[RELATED: 3 Quick Facts About Lauren Daigle, Performing “America the Beautiful” at the Super Bowl]
Not The Only Patriotic Song Performed At The Super Bowl
As for the song itself, “America the Beautiful”, first caught the eye of readers in 1895. Before becoming a song, it was a poem, written by Katharine Lee Bates. She published the poem on July 4th of that year in The Congregationalist. Eventually the poem was turned into the historic song known today thanks to Samuel A. Ward, who happened to be a choirmaster. Surprisingly, neither Bates nor Ward met.
Not the only national song performed at the Super Bowl, songwriter Jon Batiste also helped kick off the festivities when performing the national anthem. Speaking about his hometown of New Orleans, he admitted, “It’s always a good thing to represent the best of who we are, and it’s important to have songs and symbols that represent that but when you get to a point where there’s conflict in that regard, it’s an interesting place for an artist to stand.”
(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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