Home sweet home.
Jon Batiste, 38, returned to his native Louisiana to perform a rendition of the national anthem at the 2025 Super Bowl.
Batiste wore all black and sang the song while playing his piano.
Attendees inside the New Orleans Caesars Superdome, including the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles players and coaches, went wild cheering for him. At one point during his performance, cameras also panned to President Donald Trump from his suite.
The United States marine corps flew over the stadium from above as there was a big American flag on the field at the end of Batiste’s performance.
Baptiste took the stage after “America the Beautiful” performers Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” performer Ledisi. Kendrick Lamar is headlining the halftime show with guest performer SZA later in the night.
Last year, Reba McEntire sang the national anthem at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, which saw the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.
She gave the song a country twang and wore black pants, bedazzled in rhinestones, with a sparkly blazer.
The year before, fellow country star Chris Stapleton sang the patriotic song.
Batiste broke the two-year trend of prominent country singers doing the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
The musician began his career performing on the streets of New York with his Juilliard School peers in the band Stay Human. In 2015, they became the house band on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Batiste found massive success as a solo artist, winning five Grammy Awards in 2022, including Album of the Year for “We Are.” He won two more Grammys at the Feb. 2 award show for his documentary “American Symphony,” which explores his relationship with his wife, Suleika Jaouad, and her ongoing cancer battle.
He’s also an Oscar winner for scoring the 2020 Pixar animated movie “Soul.”
Last month, Batiste spoke to Entertainment Tonight about preparing for his Super Bowl performance.
“I’m excited to figure out an arrangement that lasts the test of time, and I look forward to sharing it,” he said.
The “Saturday Night” actor was also asked if he would join Lamar, 37, and SZA, 35, for a song during the halftime show.
“You know, I always try to keep things close to the vest,” Batiste told ET. “I’ve been asked that before, and I messed up.”
