(Photo courtesy of @NOLASuperBowlHC on X)
By Ross Jackson
When one of the greatest music cities in the world hosts one of the globe’s biggest events, it’s reasonable to expect only the best. That’s exactly what the city of New Orleans provided at this year’s Super Bowl LIX.
New Orleans, known for its deep jazz roots and renowned musical talent, absolutely showed out during the pre-game performances.
Truthfully, the city was incredible all week leading to this moment. However, when the lights came on, New Orleans did not miss its opportunity to shine.
The pregame began with a powerful performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black national anthem, by Ledisi, a New Orleans native. She was accompanied by 125 New Orleans-area high school students dressed in bright yellow choir robes, creating a striking contrast to her all-white attire. She brought the house down on the anthem’s 125th anniversary and that was just the beginning.
Soon after, Southern University’s famed Human Jukebox marching band led a star-studded cast in a medley celebration of the city’s music and culture. Trumpeter Terence Blanchard, another New Orleans native, joined the incredible marching band performance.
The stage then filled with more local talent, including Harry Connick Jr., the Soul Rebels, the Original Pinettes, Leroy Jones, Preservation Hall Jazz Band musician Freddie Lonzo, and the Spirit of New Orleans Gospel Choir, all showcased on the Caesars Superdome field. New Orleans rapper Master P and the Mardi Gras Indians also represented the city, each with deep ties to the Big Easy.
The remarkable moments continued as one of New Orleans’ most recognizable musicians, Trombone Shorty, stood alongside fellow Grammy Award winner Lauren Daigle of Lake Charles, La., to transform “The Star-Spangled Banner” into a New Orleans jazz hit.
The pre-game performances culminated Jon Batiste, the multi-faceted Grammy-winner musician, seated at a beautifully adorned and colorful piano at midfield. The St. Augustine high school alumni delivered his signature sound with a flawless rendition of the National Anthem that felt like a love letter being penned to the city for the entire world to see.
The events were capped off with a moment of recognition for those lost and impacted by the Bourbon Street New Year’s Day terrorist attack. The tribute was led by New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan. In typical southern hospitality, the tribute wasn’t limited to the events within the city, but also called attention to the tragedies that have taken place elsewhere like North Carolina, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia.
Typically a celebration of football and country, the Super Bowl took on a different tone. In the moments leading up to the coin toss at the Superdome, it became a tribute to New Orleans—its culture, history, and signature spirit of joy and resilience.
If anyone was in doubt about why the city of New Orleans should be in a constant rotation as a Super Bowl host city, this unforgettable series of performances should leave no doubt.
