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Brandi Carlile delivered a heartfelt rendition of “America the Beautiful” at Super Bowl LX on Sunday (February 8).
The Grammy-winning artist stepped up to the mic with her guitar, accompanied by musical duo and sisters SistaStrings, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Carlile, 44, told the Associated Press days before the performance that she’s “been preparing for it more spiritually than technically. I want to sing that song as more of a prayer than a boast. …You have to wake up and take a risk with yourself. That’s what makes performance beautiful.”
She told The SoCal Sound that it’s “profound” to get to sing “America the Beautiful” at the Super Bowl. “That is a song that I can put every piece of my weight behind, every piece of my heart and soul and I can put inside the lyric of 'American the Beautiful' and mean it. And if I couldn't, I wouldn't. I wouldn't have sung it. …And to me, on some level, that is my national anthem because it upholds and embraces the idea of America and what America is supposed to be for everyone. And a belief that it can still happen and it’s not dominant and it’s not militaristic and it’s not exceptionalism. All I can say is that my prayer for this country is within that song.”
Carlile, gearing up for the opening night of her headlining arena tour, was one of three artists to deliver passionate performances ahead of Super Bowl LX. Coco Jones performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and Charlie Puth performed the National Anthem. The Seattle Seahawks emerged victorious against the New England Patriots in a 29-13 win. Watch Carlile’s rendition here: