10-02-2025
New Orleans takes center on Super Bowl stage
When millions of people tuned in to Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, they were treated to a New Orleans cultural spectacular during pregame.
Why it matters: You didn't know "America the Beautiful" could be such a bop, did you?
The latest: The performance put New Orleans' culture, and especially New Orleans' Black culture, in the world's biggest spotlight.
The funky rendition of "America the Beautiful" was arranged and performed by Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle.
Jon Batiste sang the National Anthem, and Ledisi led the performance of "Lift Every Voice" with the Spirit of New Orleans Gospel Choir.
The performance also included Terence Blanchard, Harry Connick Jr., Southern University's Human Jukebox marching band, the Soul Rebels and samples from Big Freedia and Boosie Badazz.
Fun fact: This was the first time in history that all pregame performers were from the game's host state.
Zoom in: During the show, Mardi Gras Indians danced alongside Southern University's drum majors and Dancing Dolls.
Mardi Gras Indians, or Black Masking Indians, practice a unique cultural tradition rooted in New Orleans' Black community.
While its origins are somewhat murky, many say the legend honors a relationship forged by south Louisiana's indigenous communities who were brave enough to take in enslaved people when they escaped bondage in the state's early days.
Today's tribes sew by hand elaborate, colorful, immaculately beaded and feathered suits, creating a new one every year. They typically wear it just twice: once on Mardi Gras Day, and another time on what they call Super Sunday, which is tied to St. Joseph's Day.
