Brandi Carlile is preparing to take one of the biggest stages in sports and music as she gears up to perform “America the Beautiful” at Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, where her hometown Seattle Seahawks will face off against the New England Patriots.
The 11-time GRAMMY Award–winning singer/songwriter spoke candidly 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. During the conversation, Carlile reflected on the deeper meaning behind the song and why she views it less as a patriotic statement and more as a hopeful prayer for the country.
“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, began. “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 said this view helps her connect to the song and perform it in a real and honest way, especially on such a big stage. “So for that reason, I can put my whole self into that song and believe what I’m saying. And that’s my job on Sunday,” she added. Brandi Carlile then went on to emphasize 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.”
Carlile acknowledged the importance of the moment and made it clear she feels honored by the opportunity. “So I take it like you guys too. This is heavy stuff. These are big days, and we’re being given a high honor here. And what we do with it matters,” she concluded.
In a separate interview with the Seattle Times, Brandi further elaborated on performing “America The Beautiful” during such a politically and culturally 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.”
She continued, “If we can draw as many people as possible to that original poem and the woman that wrote it, it’ll be a really interesting perspective on America. I’m really excited to get to sing that song on such an important stage as a person from a marginalized community.”
Catherine Shepherd Carlile, Brandi Carlile’s wife, manager, and the executive director of the non-profit Looking Out Foundation, also teased that Super Bowl LX viewers can expect a memorable performance that “has a little accompaniment, some unexpected accompaniment.” Catharine continued to explain to the outlet, “I think that her take on this song is going to be uniquely special. And it’s funny, you get like one minute [and] 40 seconds to do something huge and make an impact, and that’s no small feat. But with a song like that, for somebody like Brandi, such a sensitive orator, I think it’s kind of perfect for her.”
During the Apple Music Halftime Show press conference, Brandi Carlile also predicted that the Seattle Seahawks would take home the win at this year’s Super Bowl LX. “I’ve never been a sports lady. I can’t even run in a straight line. It’s ridiculous, but my daughters, inexplicably, are total jocks, and they have just got me in line quick,” she stated, referencing her two daughters, 11-year-old Evangeline and 7-year-old Elijah, who she shares with her wife of 14 years. “So I am making up for lost time as a fan.”
In addition to Brandi Carlile, pregame talent for Super Bowl LX includes Charlie Puth, who will perform The National Anthem (“The Star-Spangled Banner”), and Coco Jones, who is set to sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Meanwhile, Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.
Super Bowl LX is set for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, featuring the Seattle Seahawks facing off against the New England Patriots. The game will air on NBC and stream on Peacock, with pregame coverage beginning at 1 p.m. EST. Brandi Carlile is scheduled to perform “America the Beautiful” shortly before the 6:30 p.m. EST kickoff.
