Coco Jones opened Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, 2026, with a stirring performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing, also known as the Black National Anthem.
The Grammy-winning R&B singer, known for her hit ICU, performed at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, backed by an eight-member orchestra.
Jones wore a white, floor-length gown with red, black, and green sequins designed by Karl Kani. The look paid tribute to Whitney Houston, who wore a similar outfit when she performed the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV in 1991.
“Lift ev’ry voice and sing,” Jones sang with the clarity and precision that earned her a Grammy for Best R&B Performance in 2024.
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Lift Every Voice and Sing was written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson, with music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson. The NAACP named it the Black National Anthem in 1919. The NFL started including it at Super Bowl pregame ceremonies in 2020 after the racial justice protests following George Floyd’s death.
Jones’ performance came before Charlie Puth sang The Star-Spangled Banner and Brandi Carlile performed America the Beautiful. Green Day also delivered a medley of their hits. The pregame led into Bad Bunny’s high-energy halftime show.
A former Disney child star from Tennessee, Jones released her debut album, Why Not More?, in 2025. She is the daughter of former NFL player Mike Jones and is engaged to NBA star Donovan Mitchell.