Singer Coco Jones delivered a soulful rendition of the hymn 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' during the Super Bowl LX pre-game ceremony. Accompanied by an all-female string ensemble, she brought passion and depth to the performance known as the Black national anthem. The 28-year-old R&B artist shared insights on her authentic approach in a pre-event interview.
Coco Jones joined a notable lineup of performers, including Ledisi and Andra Day, who have sung 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' at previous Super Bowls. On Sunday, during the pre-game ceremony for Super Bowl LX, the singer-actor offered an impassioned version of the 1900 hymn written by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson. She slowed the tempo slightly, emphasizing the lyrics' hope and tenacity, while her resonant vocals scaled the song's highs, backed by an eight-piece all-female string ensemble that added emotional depth.
Dressed in a sporty white zip-up puffy athletic jacket with red sequin stripes and a ring of red, green, and black sequins on her left arm, Jones paired it with a short crop top revealing a bit of midriff and a long white flowing skirt gathered high in the front. In an interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden and Zane Lowe before the event, she explained her preparation: “I think just be authentic. I feel like with ‘Lift Every Voice,’ there’s so much hope and tenacity that I relate to, and everyone does in their own journeys. So really listening to the lyrics, really sitting and feeling what they mean to me and then naturally reacting to that.”
Addressing her nerves, Jones said, “Well definitely some nerves. I’ve had some amazing performers precede me and I think realizing that I’ve been chosen and so I deserve the moment. I deserve the opportunity. And just kind of speaking positively so you don’t think about the pressure. You just think about the honor that it is.”
The performance capped a strong year for Jones, who released her debut album “Why Not More?” in April 2025, followed by a deluxe edition in August featuring collaborations with Alicia Keys and Leon Thomas. The album earned a nomination for best R&B album at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Known for co-starring in the Peacock drama series “Bel-Air” and advising on NBC’s “The Voice” under coach John Legend, Jones, daughter of former NFL player Mike Jones, grew up in South Carolina and Tennessee. She announced her engagement to NBA star Donovan Mitchell last July.
