Lauren Daigle’s Soulful Super Bowl Rendition of ‘America the Beautiful’ Ignites Passionate Debate Among Fans

Lauren Daigle graced the stage at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans with a powerful, soulful rendition of “America the Beautiful,” setting the tone for the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. While her performance captivated the stadium, the reaction online was anything but unanimous.

The contemporary Christian music star stunned in an off-the-shoulder plaid dress with dramatic details, paired with elegant jewelry and bold red heels. Her heartfelt performance radiated passion and artistry, leaving a lasting impression.

Accompanying the 33-year-old singer on the field, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and his band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, along with a guitarist, brought a vibrant New Orleans flair to the performance, playing from elevated circular platforms.

The vibrant field provided a stunning backdrop, with bright white yard lines, the bold logo at midfield featuring vivid red, yellow, and green accents, and the iconic NFL shield nearby. The striking design stood out against the clean, green turf, enhancing the visual impact of the performance.

Featured in the video of Daigle’s performance, several players from the Chiefs and Eagles stood respectfully, adding to the moment’s significance.

Among them, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes closed his eyes in quiet reflection, while Eagles running back Miles Sanders stood nearby with a solemn expression

In addition to Mahomes and Sanders, a sign language interpreter passionately signed during the performance, enhancing the inclusivity and accessibility of the event.

The performance sparked a wave of mixed reactions across social media. One viewer harshly criticized it, calling it “the worst rendition I’ve ever heard,” while another praised the unique twist, saying, “Loved it! Both are so talented, and I love the New Orleans spin.”

Some were unimpressed, with one bluntly stating, “It sucked, ruined the song,” while others applauded Daigle’s stage presence, calling it “outstanding by any measure.”

Reactions continued to pour in, with one person labeling it a “horrible performance,” and another feeling the jazz influence didn’t fit the song’s traditional style. Some listeners even found it grating, admitting, “Hurting my ears, ngl 🙃.”

However, not all feedback was negative—some noted that while the beginning felt off, the performance “sounded much better” as it progressed.

However, others enjoyed the singer’s performance, with one fan calling it “Top Notch [sic]” and another praising the jazz twist.

Ahead of her performance, Daigle shared her excitement about the opportunity in a recent interview with Billboard. “It is an incredible honor, I’m overzealous, and I love getting to do it with friends. The best thing,” Daigle said.

She recalled that Andrews personally invited her to be part of the Super Bowl performance, emphasizing the significance of the opportunity and calling it one of the biggest stages for a singer.

Hailing from Louisiana, Daigle shared a deep personal connection to the performance. Born and raised in Lafayette before making her way to New Orleans, she was drawn to the city’s vibrant musical heartbeat.

Reflecting on her roots, she reminisced about standing on street corners, mesmerized by the sounds of local musicians. “The soul, the power of jazz—it’s absolutely incredible,” she shared, highlighting the influence New Orleans has had on her artistry.

Infusing her performance with that rich musical heritage, Daigle teamed up with Trombone Shorty to craft a distinctive arrangement of “America the Beautiful.”

In a February 6 interview with Entertainment Tonight, she shared insights into their creative process, revealing that they spent nearly two hours brainstorming and refining their vision before shaping the final rendition.

“Well, they came up with a beautiful arrangement. So you know, you have the Zydeco that exists in Lafayette. You’ve got incredible brass bands that exist in the birthplace of jazz, which is New Orleans, and there’s a rhythm that kind of marries those two spaces, and it’ll get you stepping, you know, it’ll get you moving,” she explained.

She credited Shorty for ensuring the performance honored their Louisiana roots. “Troy was like ‘I really wanted to bring the representation of the state into this performance and the representation of our heritage, and where we came from, how do we do we do that,’ and he was very mindful to pay homage to the places that we came from,” Daigle added.

Eager to share the special moment, Daigle brought along friends and family to cheer her on at the game. When asked if she was rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles, she didn’t hesitate to show her true allegiance, declaring, “I got the [New Orleans] Saints. That’s what I got, yay!”

By weaving together their musical influences, Daigle and her team created a rendition that paid tribute to their roots—one that would go on to ignite passionate discussions among fans.

Love it or hate it, Daigle’s performance made a lasting impact and had everyone talking.