Artist Ledisi performs “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty

Ledisi’s performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl moved audiences near and far.

On Sunday, Feb 9. before the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the 52-year-old Grammy-winning singer performed the hymn that is often referred to as the Black national anthem.

Ledisi, whose full name is Ledisi Anibade Young, wore a flowing white gown as she took center stage on the field accompanied by a New Orleans youth choir dressed in yellow robes. As she belted the notes to the song flawlessly, several staff members and audiences on-and-off the field could be seen respectfully engaging with the song.

🙏 @ledisi performs “Lift Every Voice And Sing” prior to Super Bowl LIX pic.twitter.com/LapZMgywZQ

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The New Orleans native known for her R&B and jazz albums, won the 2020 Grammy for best traditional R&B performance for her song “Anything For You.”

Ledisi also has acting credits to boast. She portrayed gospel icon Mahalia Jackson twice in the 2014 biopic Selma and Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, a 2022 musical drama.

At the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Press Conference on Thursday, Ledisi said that she is “overwhelmed” and “honored” to perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Ledisi performing at Super Bowl 2025.FOX

“I feel like I’m in alignment with greatness to stand in this moment and sing that song,” she added, getting choked up. The song, which was adapted from a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson, turns 125 this year.

She also spoke about what is going on in her mind moments before performing.

“I just just keep thinking of this little girl from Holly Grove riding her bike, singing with her family singing, moving to Oakland, then going around the world on bigger stages and then coming back here full circle, back home wanting to show that I am from here too and to be given that moment,” Ledisi said.

Ledisi in 2022. Frazer Harrison/Getty
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She added that she’s thinking about, “My grandparents, my family, my cousins, my new family … I think of family and community. And then I’m thinking tell the story.”

Joining Ledisi on the field before kickoff is Jon Batiste performing the national anthem, along with Trombone Shorty and Christian music singer Lauren Daigle with their rendition of “America the Beautiful.”

Later, Kendrick Lamar and SZA will take the stage during halftime.

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will face off in the 2025 Super Bowl, airing on Fox on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET.