Who is singing the Black national anthem at Super Bowl 59? What to know about Ledisi
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Super Bowl 59, a battle between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, is now just days away, and the excitement is building. The NFL has an impressive starting lineup to officially kick off the action, with the Louisiana-born singer Ledisi set to perform the historically significant Black national anthem.
Ledisi will perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing," a hymn originally written as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson in the late 1800s. This powerful anthem, set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson in 1905, was adopted by the NAACP as its official song in 1919. The NFL began incorporating this Black national anthem into its pre-game ceremonies in 2020, a significant step following the protests against police brutality and the death of George Floyd.
Ledisi will join Jon Batiste, who will perform the national anthem, along with Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty, who will sing 'America the Beautiful.' The Apple Music Halftime Show will feature the diverse talents of hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar, with special guest SZA confirmed to perform.
Super Bowl tickets: Average cost, price, how to buy for Chiefs vs. Eagles
Born in New Orleans and raised in Oakland, CA, Ledisi Anibade Young is a Grammy-winning vocalist, songwriter, music producer, author, and actress. She released her first album, "Soulsinger," in 2000, followed by her second album, "Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue," in 2002.
Throughout her illustrious career, Ledisi has received a total of five awards, including one Grammy and forty-six nominations, in addition to five honorary awards.
Date: Sunday, Feb. 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Streaming: Tubi | Fubo | DirecTV Stream | Sling TV | YouTube TV | Hulu with Live TV
Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Watch the Super Bow live with Fubo
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is singing the Black national anthem at Super Bowl 59?
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