American singer and songwriter Ledisi, born Ledisi Anibade Young, is set to perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the 2025 Super Bowl.
The song, often referred to as the Black national anthem, has faced criticism, boycott threats, and conspiracy theories from some conservative groups since the NFL first included it in pre-season opening games in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
Originally written as a poem in 1900 by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson, it was later set to music and became a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Frequently sung at rallies and protests, the anthem urges perseverance and unity with its powerful refrain, “Let us march on ’til victory is won.”
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According to Reuters, Ledisi’s performance will take place before the 6:30 p.m. EST (2330 GMT) kickoff, preceding the U.S. national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” sung by Jon Batiste, and “America the Beautiful,” performed by New Orleans musician Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle.
Despite calls for boycotts from certain social media circles labeling the song as divisive, there have been no major public condemnations from high-profile figures this year. In past years, former Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake, media personality Megyn Kelly, and former attorney general hopeful Matt Gaetz voiced opposition to the anthem’s inclusion in the event.
“Calls to boycott over this incredibly important song are disturbing, disrespectful, and distasteful—reinforcing exactly why ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ remains as relevant today as ever,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president of the Hip Hop Caucus, a civil rights and climate advocacy group.
The performance comes as the NFL’s social justice initiative—launched in 2020 with a $250-million commitment over ten years to combat racism and support African American communities—faces renewed scrutiny. The league drew criticism this week for replacing its “End Racism” slogan in Super Bowl end zones with the phrase “Choose Love.”
Adding to the political backdrop, President Donald Trump is expected to attend Super Bowl LIX. During his administration, he rolled back several diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that many NFL players had supported, particularly those addressing racial inequality and social justice issues.
The debate over race and activism in the NFL traces back to 2016 when former quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. His demonstration ignited a nationwide movement, later dubbed “The Kaepernick Effect,” which influenced athletes across various sports to take similar stands. Nike featured Kaepernick in a major ad campaign in 2018, but his protest also cost him his NFL career—he became a free agent after the 2016 season and has not played professional football since.
Ledisi is a native of New Orleans where the 2025 Super Bowl will be taking place.
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