Super Bowl pre-game performances set inclusive and hopeful tone
R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan and country music star Eric Church performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl on Sunday. They were only part of the memorable and inclusive performances leading up to the game, which started with Alicia Keys singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
H.E.R. followed up Keys’ performance with a powerful rendition of “America the Beautiful.” Her performance was echoed by ASL interpreter Warren “Wawa” Snipe. Snipe, a deaf rapper, drew a lot of praise online for his signing during the live performances at the stadium.
Fresh off her spectacular reading at the Biden-Harris inauguration, poet laureate Amanda Gorman recognized a nurse, an educator, and a Marine veteran who served as the game’s honorary captains.
“We celebrate them by acting with courage and compassion,” read Gorman from her original poem. “By doing what is right and just, for while we honor them today, it is they who every day honor us.”
With so many women of color featured in the pre-game performances, this was possibly the most inclusive Super Bowl ever.
Video Transcript
JAZMINE SULLIVAN: (SINGING) Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave--
- R R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan and country music star Eric Church performed the National Anthem at the Super Bowl on Sunday. But they were only part of the memorable and inclusive performances, which started with Alicia Keys singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
ALICIA KEYS: (SINGING) Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring--
- Viewers absolutely love Keys' performance, which was followed by H.E.R. Crushing "America the Beautiful."
H.E.R. (SINGING) From sea to shining sea--
- And fresh off her spectacular reading at the Biden Harris inauguration, Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman recognized a nurse, an educator, and a marine veteran who served as the game's honorary captains.
AMANDA GORMAN: We celebrate them by acting with courage and compassion, by doing what is right and just. For while we honor them today, it is they who every day honor us.
- And while viewers celebrated so many strong black female voices leading up to the big game, they also fawned over American Sign Language interpreter Warren "Wawa" Snipe, whose performance drew praise and only added to the inclusive pregame pageantry.
ERIC CHURCH: (SINGING) O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
