NEW: Christian Singer To Perform At Super Bowl; Vindicated After Being ‘Canceled’

Christian music star Lauren Daigle is set to take center stage at Super Bowl LIX, marking a significant comeback after facing an attempted cancellation years ago. The Super Bowl, which will take place on Sunday at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, will see Daigle performing “America the Beautiful” during the pregame show alongside jazz musician Trombone Shorty.

The 33-year-old Louisiana native will be part of a lineup showcasing the rich musical heritage of New Orleans. Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste will perform the national anthem, while R&B artist Ledisi will sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The highly anticipated rematch of Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will be broadcast on Fox. Daigle’s Super Bowl moment comes after she faced opposition from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who sought to block her from performing at “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebration” due to her participation in a faith-based outdoor event during COVID restrictions.

The event attracted hundreds of participants, many of whom chose not to wear masks at that time. Following the event, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell criticized Daigle for her participation and sent a stern letter to the producers of “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve,” urging them to prohibit her from performing.

Lauren Daigle at GCU arena in Phoenix,AZ USA December 18,2016.

Daigle told NOLA.com, “I’m excited. It’s going to be a beautiful opportunity for us to showcase what New Orleans represents, and the culture, and the beauty of unity in music.” She continued, “New Orleans has seen some trying times recently. To be able to offer a sound of hope for people in this city, to sing out over the city and from the city into the rest of the world, is going to be one of my favorite things, maybe ever.”

In a conversation on the “Arroyo Grande” podcast, Daigle reflected on her journey and the challenges of dealing with public scrutiny. “To get this moment years later, I would say for anybody watching that has had their reputations smeared in any sort of way and they are just waiting for the moment of vindication, sometimes it only takes five years.”

“I would have been, and still would be, honored to represent our city on New Year’s Eve, and although I was aware of discussions regarding my involvement, an offer was never made,” she added.

LAS VEGAS – MAY 1: Lauren Daigle at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, NV

Born in Louisiana, Daigle’s music blends gospel, pop, and jazz influences. She has won multiple Grammy Awards, Dove Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. While primarily a Christian artist, her music has reached a broad audience, and she has been compared to Adele due to her rich, deep vocal tone.

During her talk with Arroyo, Daigle mentioned that she was “definitely not invited” to the telecast and discussed her reaction to Mayor Cantrell’s critical letter.

“I think from that letter, too, she quoted, ‘She’s a weapon to society,'” Daigle recounted. “And I went home to Lafayette, and I got in my parents’ bed and I pulled the covers over my head as an adult. I was like, ‘Gosh, here we are again.’ Because now, there’s no amount of public ridicule that is fun.”

“What I learned is that when people need an element of hope, coming together is one of the most beautiful things,” she explained. “It is one of the most incredible rights that we have in this country. It is. And I think to take that away from people is so disheartening, especially in a time like that.”

The conversation took an uplifting turn when Daigle described how Trombone Shorty reached out to her. “He said, ‘You know, I wanted to give a hat tip to New Orleans because we’re here. But I also know you’re from Lafayette. So, I wanted to give a hat tip to Lafayette.’ So, he came up with this arrangement that rhythmically suits both places,” she shared.

Daigle also noted that her performance of “America the Beautiful” would be infused with her Christian faith. “I immediately tried to think … how does it feel the most human in my voice?” Daigle contemplated. “How will it cut through to this generation, the age that we are living in right now, the political climate that we’re living in right now?

“How can I use this song to cut through to people who might be jaded toward our country or might not love what we have in this country or what we’ve built in this country?”