Brandi Carlile delivered an impressive rendition of “America The Beautiful” at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday (Feb. 8).
The 11-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist and mother of two performed the classic patriotic tune in the center of the field inside Levi’s Stadium. Donning a pantsuit with a red, white, and blue tie, Carlile strummed an acoustic guitar as she belted out the lyrics to the track.
Carlile, a proud Seattle native, delivered a unique rendition of “America The Beautiful,” adding an Americana flair to the tune. An America 250 flag as well as the American flag were displayed on the field.
On behalf of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Julian Ortiz performed The National Anthem in American Sign Language.
Ahead of her performance at Super Bowl LX, Brandi Carlile opened up about the historic moment during the NFL and Apple Music Halftime Show press conference, where she appeared alongside fellow pregame performers Charlie Puth and Coco Jones.
“Well, I think, first of all, I would encourage anybody to go and find the full version of ‘America The Beautiful,’ the lyric written by this brilliant woman, Katharine Lee Bates,” Carlie, who was born and raised in the Seattle area, previously shared. “America the Beautiful” traces its origins back to an 1895 poem written by Wellesley College professor, author, and poet Katharine Lee Bates, who is widely believed by historians to have been part of the LGBTQ+ community.
She continued, “And it reads like, and the way I would love for people to interpret the song is more of a prayer than a boast. This is a song about a country, a beautiful country that ebbs and flows in terms of hope. And it’s a work in progress. And the song believes we can get there, and I believe we can get there.”
Carlile also emphasized the unifying power that the Super Bowl has. “The Super Bowl is a really unifying thing. It’s a big thing in this country. And all my friends and family are so excited for me getting to be an interpreter of this lyric and to be a part of this opportunity.”
In a separate interview with the Seattle Times, Brandi further elaborated on performing “America The Beautiful” during such a politically divisive time.
“Well, it’s a complex situation. This stage alone is a complex situation, if you’re paying attention,” Brandi explained. “‘America the Beautiful’ is one of the finest pieces of music and lyrics… that this country has ever seen. And it’s written from a perspective that I don’t know anybody that can’t get behind. I do believe in what the song is saying, and particularly if you delve into the lesser-known verses of this song and you think about who wrote it and the situation. I’ve spent a lot of time on it and meditating on it, and I feel really proud to do it. And I feel really proud that they asked a gay woman to do it.”
Carlile’s performance of “America The Beautiful” served as part of the official kickoff to Super Bowl 60 and the pre-game entertainment lineup, which also included Charlie Puth, who performed The National Anthem (“The Star-Spangled Banner”), and Coco Jones, who sang “Lift Every Voice And Sing.” Carlile performed “America the Beautiful” shortly before 6:30 p.m. EST kickoff.
Carlile’s performance of “America The Beautiful” came just minutes before Charlie Puth’s stunning rendition of The National Anthem, which served as the official kickoff to Super Bowl 60. Previous “America The Beautiful” performers include Post Malone, Babyface, Ray Charles, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, and more.
Additionally, Bad Bunny will deliver the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, which will be a production of the NFL put on in conjunction with Apple Music, Roc Nation, and Jay-Z.
Super Bowl LX took place on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and featured the Seattle Seahawks facing off against the New England Patriots. The game aired on NBC and streamed on Peacock, with pregame coverage beginning at 1 p.m. EST.
