Coco Jones Performs ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ at Super Bowl 2026

The commencement of the 2026 Super Bowl was marked by a powerful rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing, performed by Grammy-winning artist Coco Jones. Often referred to as the Black national anthem, the song has a significant history.

The History of the Black National Anthem

The hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing was penned by James Weldon Johnson, a distinguished author, educator, and civil rights activist. Written in late 1899 as a poem to honor President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, the poem was later set to music by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. This significant song was first publicly performed in 1900 by a choir of 500 schoolchildren in Jacksonville, Florida.

According to the NAACP, where Johnson played a leading role, Lift Every Voice and Sing eloquently encapsulated the hope and quest for liberty among Black Americans. It became synonymous with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s, serving as a beacon of encouragement.

America has only ONE NATIONAL ANTHEM. Why is the NFL trying to divide us by playing multiple?! Do football, not wokeness, tweeted Rep. Lauren Boebert in response to the anthem’s inclusion at earlier Super Bowls.

Rufus Jones, president of the James Weldon Johnson Foundation, highlighted the song’s early significance, noting that it was written before The Star-Spangled Banner was legally recognized as the U.S. national anthem in 1931. During a time of segregation, Black communities sought inspiration from Johnson’s work. In 2021, Rep. James Clyburn introduced a bill to have the song recognized as the national hymn.

Singing at the 2026 Super Bowl

Coco Jones, an acclaimed R&B artist who won a Grammy in 2024, delivered the anthem before the Seattle Seahawks faced the New England Patriots. Besides her illustrious career, Jones was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2026 Grammys.

Joining the performance was esteemed deaf music artist Fred Beam. Meanwhile, other performances included Charlie Puth singing the national anthem and Brandi Carlile performing America the Beautiful. As Jon Barker, senior vice president of global event production for the NFL, expressed, These artists bring a distinct voice to the moment, helping set the tone for a day that will captivate fans around the world.

Previous Performances at Super Bowls

In recent years, Lift Every Voice and Sing has been featured before the Super Bowl, with various artists embracing its profound message. In 2025, Ledisi, with a choir of New Orleans high school students, commemorated the hymn’s 125th anniversary. An American Sign Language interpretation by Stephanie Nogueras accompanied the performance.

Past Super Bowls have seen the anthem performed by artists like Andra Day in 2024, and Sheryl Lee Ralph in 2023, who remarked on the historical significance of singing on the same date as the song’s first public performance in 1900.

Alicia Keys performed the song in a pre-recorded segment in 2021, and Mary Mary delivered the anthem from SoFi Stadium during the following year’s Super Bowl. In 2020, it played before all Week 1 games as a statement supporting social justice.

The NFL’s Troy Vincent reiterated the song’s importance, saying, It’s as pertinent in today’s environment as it was when it was written.

Full Lyrics of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’

Lift every voice and sing,’Til earth and heaven ring,Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;Let our rejoicing riseHigh as the list’ning skies,

…

God of our weary years,God of our silent tears,Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;Thou who has by Thy mightLed us into the light…

The 2026 Super Bowl, held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, is airing on NBC with a kickoff scheduled at 6:30 p.m. ET.