Jon Batiste will “definitely” lean into his jazz roots when he takes the stage to sing the national anthem this Sunday.
The Grammy winner, 38, told Page Six he is “always going to represent” his hometown of New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, whenever he has the opportunity — including at Super Bowl LIX.
While Batiste is “excited” to perform at the big game, he noted that it comes at a “very interesting” time in the United States.
“It’s not good or bad, it’s interesting,” he told us last month at the grand opening of his eponymous jazz club at the Baha Mar resort in Nassau.
The “Soul” singer said he wants there to be a “consideration of what the song — what an anthem is [and] what it means to sing that song.”
“It’s always a good thing to represent the best of who we are and it’s important to have songs and symbols that represent that but when you get to a point where there’s conflict in that regard, it’s an interesting place for an artist to stand,” he said.
“And for it to be in New Orleans… again, I love things that are fraught with,” he continued with a laugh. “So I’m excited about it.”
Batiste sang a similar tune at the Super Bowl presser Thursday morning, telling reporters that “music can really communicate deep profound truth.”
He noted that our country’s “songs,” “iconography,” “messaging” and “ideals” have been “redefined” over time just like music, “constantly evolving while also remaining the same.”
While Batiste wants to respect the original work, he has always been known to add his own flare to things.
The Oscar winner has performed the “Star-Spangled Banner” at several sporting events over the years, including the 2017 NBA All-Star game in which he opened with a 25-second piano solo.
When asked about his “inspiration” this time, Batiste said he will be thinking about his late grandfather, who “was in the first wave to integrate the navy and serve his country” at just 17.
“Anything great about me, he was one of the blueprints of that,” the musician said.
“I think about a lot of people in my life who have represented what I believe this song is about and what it should be about at its highest aspirational level,” he said.
“So when I channel that it makes it feel like it’s me but it’s way bigger than me, he continued, adding that he “might get choked up.”
While Batiste will kick off the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, Kendrick Lamar will headline the Halftime Show.