Andra Day takes the field to “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at Super Bowl LVIII

Super Bowl LVIII began not with a ball on a field, but with the voices of three musicians ringing out at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. After Post Malone performed “America the Beautiful” and Reba McEntire performed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated singer-actress Andra Day performed a stunning rendition of the Black national anthem. “Lift up every voice and sing.”

The Las Vegas audience and millions watching from home were treated to Day's performance, backed by a seasoned chorus of singers. Clad in a beige coat, Day's powerful vocals rang out beautifully as she delivered the lyrics: “Lift every voice and sing/Til earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty.” The song was also performed in American Sign Language by Shaheem Sanchez.

Last year, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was performed at the pregame ceremony by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, who made history as the first black person to perform the song on the field before the Super Bowl. Day follows in her footsteps as the spiritual reaches beyond the community in which it was created.

“You know, I'm nervous, I'm excited — it's all the emotions,” Day said Associated Press ahead of the game. “But I think for me it's inspiring because I look forward to the day when the Black national anthem — or anthems that represent other people, or a world anthem that represents everyone — is not such a debate, but is the norm of the future. It is exciting.”

Day's was produced and arranged by Adam Blackstone, who also produced and arranged the evening's national anthem. “Sometimes we have to change things to make sure people are respected, [when it comes to] language and such. So it's definitely us navigating the music and some other stuff,” he said Rolling rock last year for creating the music for several halftime shows as musical director. “But I've also learned that music helps the culture forward, and we're literally fitting a concert into the biggest game of the year. Sometimes people end up tuning in just to see this concert, so I'm grateful to be a part of it.”