Before each Super Bowl, a predetermined singer performs a rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner," the national anthem. But this year, we heard two anthems sung at the NFL’s biggest game.
Grammy-award winning artist Andra Day performed a rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," also known as the Black National Anthem.
It’s become a staple of Super Bowl pregame festivities for the past several years, and that has many fans divided. Some people, including Day, think this is a phenomenal opportunity to normalize this song as part of the Super Bowl festivities.
She expressed excitement at earning this opportunity to sing in front of thousands of people in Allegiant Stadium. "You know I’m nervous, I’m excited, it’s all the feelings," Day told the Associated Press. "But I think for me it’s inspiring because, I mentioned this the other day, I’m looking forward to the day when the Black National Anthem, or anthems that represent other people, or a universal anthem that represent everyone and where everyone feels represented and loved, is not such a conversation, but it is the future’s norm.