Brandi Carlile Ignites a Patriotic Spirit at Super Bowl LX with a Moving Performance of 'America the Beautiful'
On February 8, 2026, just before the Seattle Seahawks went head-to-head with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Brandi Carlile took to the field at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. With a beautiful and simplified rendition of "America the Beautiful," she aimed to evoke the complex and fragile hopes that this nation embodies.
Dressed in a stylish suit accented with white stripes, Carlile stood confidently on a small stage, skillfully finger-picking her acoustic guitar as she delivered the ballad's heartfelt lyrics. Her voice rose effortlessly through the melody, even as it climbed higher in pitch. Accompanying her were the duo SistaStrings, whose emotive violin and cello additions enriched the performance.
"America, America!/ God shed his grace on thee," Carlile passionately sang, her voice resonating throughout the stadium. "And crown thy good with brotherhood/ From sea to shining sea!"
This stirring performance was part of a pre-game show that also featured Coco Jones singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing," a high-energy mini-concert by Green Day, and Charlie Puth performing "The Star-Spangled Banner." However, the highlight of the day is anticipated to be Bad Bunny's halftime show, which will mark a historic first as the Super Bowl's predominantly Spanish-language performance.
In the lead-up to the Big Game, Carlile, who hails from Washington state, showed her support for the Seahawks during the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams, where the Seahawks triumphed with a score of 31-27, securing their place in the Super Bowl. While she opted not to wear the team's blue and lime colors for her rendition of "America the Beautiful," she expressed her loyalty in an interview with Variety published just before the Super Bowl, stating, "I’ll have a Seahawks jersey on in my heart."
Carlile also opened up about her decision to participate in the Super Bowl festivities amidst a politically charged atmosphere in the United States. "I believe in my ability and responsibility to do this, and that's why I'm here," she explained. "Being queer and representing a marginalized community on such a grand stage in America—to acknowledge the fragile and tender hope this country is built upon—is an opportunity you simply cannot decline. You embrace it."
Check out Brandi Carlile's moving performance at the Super Bowl below:
Get weekly updates delivered straight to your inbox.
