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Coco Jones performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on Sunday before Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” is also known as the Black national anthem and has been a source of consternation for NFL fans since the league began using the song during the 2020 season. Every Super Bowl, the performance of the song draws hot takes on social media.
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Coco Jones performs “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8, 2026. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)
Super Bowl LX was no different, as the song being part of the pre-game festivities once again sparked backlash on X.
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Jones’ song was performed as fans began streaming into Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. She was the usher before Green Day did a special performance to honor the Super Bowl MVPs over the past 59 Super Bowls.
Jones’ rendition garnered widespread praise, while the NFL’s use of the song was the main sticking point with critics.
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From left to right; Charlie Puth, Coco Jones and Brandi Carlile – who will perform the national anthem “Lift Every Voice” and “America the Beautiful” respectively – will speak at a press conference Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in San Francisco ahead of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Singer-songwriter and actress who has appeared on “Bel-Air” and “The Voice.” She released her first studio album, “Why Not More?” on April 25.
The NFL began playing the Black national anthem following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis during an incident with police officers. Floyd’s death sparked a wave of action against racial injustice in the United States.
The NAACP began promoting “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as the black national anthem in 1917.
Entertainer Coco Jones performs the national anthem before the CFP National Championship college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
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Brandi Carlile was to sing “America the Beautiful” and Charlie Puth was booked to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
