Header Banner
2025NFL

NFL Makes Staggering Final Decision On Black National Anthem For Super Bowl 60

1

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

National Anthem being played at the Super Bowl
National Anthem (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Super Bowl LIX was played earlier this year, which meant there were going to be thousands of fans upset upon hearing the words “Black National Anthem.”

The NFL began regularly playing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the start of games in its 2021 season as a sign of solidarity with its predominantly Black players following a year of racial justice protests. Not a lot of people have been welcoming of the song.

Pulitzer Prize-winning hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar captivated the crowd with his halftime show, but before we got there, singer Ledisi gave her rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Perhaps the most famous song ever written in Jacksonville has become quite divisive with NFL fans in recent years.

NFL Plans To Have The Black National Anthem Played At Super Bowl LX

Nov 16, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; The flyover during the National Anthem prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Now, the NFL has made a final decision on the playing of the iconic song ahead of the Super Bowl.

The NFL announced over the weekend that the pregame ceremony would feature performances from Brandi Carlile, Charlie Puth, and Coco Jones.

The NFL stated Coco Jones was tapped to play the Black national anthem at Super Bowl LX, which will take place on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Coco Jones, a singer/songwriter and actress who has appeared on “Bel-Air” and “The Voice,” released her first studio album, “Why Not More?” earlier this year.

The anthem has been a subject of controversy for as long as it’s been around, at least where the league is concerned. However, the calls to ban it, with claims that it is divisive, fell on deaf ears, as it was part of the program for the first game of the 2025 NFL season.

The ‘Black National Anthem’ was also sung by Laurin Talese before the Dallas Cowboys took on the Eagles during the season opener.

It appears that the Anthem is here to stay.

Teams