They not like us!
Four musicians have been announced as part of the Super Bowl pregame performers ahead of Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated halftime show in the Big Easy next year.
Grammy-winning singer Jon Batiste, 38, Christian recording artist Lauren Daigle, 33, R&B vocalist Ledisi, 52, and jazz musician Trombone Shorty, 38, have been added to the lineup for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
The NFL and Roc Nation announced the news on Thursday, Nov. 28, revealing that Batiste will perform the national anthem at the Caesars Superdome.
Daigle and Shorty will combine their musical talents to sing “America the Beautiful.” Ledisi is slated to give the audience her powerful vocals on “Life Every Voice and Sing.”
“The Super Bowl is a rare moment to unite fans around the world, and this year’s performers will bring the energy, soul and vibrant sounds of the region to a global stage, as we kick off Super Bowl LIX with a celebration to remember.”
The game will air live on Fox.
Both the pregame performances and Lamar’s halftime show will feature American Sign Language performances by Stephanie Nogueras. She will sign the national anthem and “America the Beautiful,” per the Hollywood Reporter.
Otis Jones IV will handle “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” while Matt Maxey will do the ASL rendition of Lamar’s performance. Alexis Kashar of LOVE SIGN and Howard Rosenblum of Deaf Equality will also support the ASL pregame entertainment and the ASL halftime show.
The 17-time Grammy winner’s halftime show sparked controversy after New Orleans-born rapper Lil Wayne expressed disappointment for being snubbed to lead the career-changing performance.
He spoke about his hurt in an emotional Instagram post.
“First of all, I want to say forgive me for the delay. I had to get strength enough to do this without breaking,” a downcast Wayne said in September after Lamar was announced as the headliner.
“That hurt. It hurt a lot. You know what I’m talking about — it hurt a whole lot,” the wounded rapper explained of the snub. “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown — and for automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position. So I blame myself for that.”
Wayne isn’t the only one feeling the heat of Lamar’s halftime show.
Drake filed a pre-action petition in a Manhattan court earlier this week against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, alleging the companies created a “scheme” to boost the success of Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.”
He also accused them of using “bots” to “artificially inflate” the song’s streams, claiming UMG “deceived consumers” into thinking Lamar’s track was more popular than it really was.
A spokesperson for UMG denied Drake’s allegations.
“The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns,” they told The Post. “No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Drake’s filing is yet to be a full lawsuit as New York law recognizes the petition as an aim to secure information before a lawsuit is filed.
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