Brandi Carlile, Coco Jones, and Charlie Puth Prepare for Super Bowl Pregame Performances

Artists take different approaches to singing live at the high-stakes event

Feb. 6, 2026 at 12:07am by Ben Kaplan

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Brandi Carlile, Coco Jones, and Charlie Puth are set to perform during the Super Bowl pregame show, each taking a unique approach to the technically demanding stage. Carlile plans to sing 'America the Beautiful' fully live, embracing the risk, while Jones focuses on repetition and understanding the emotion behind 'Lift Every Voice and Sing.' Puth, who will perform the national anthem, is approaching it as both a vocalist and a producer, emphasizing control over the sound. The artists discuss the challenges of performing in a massive stadium setting and how they are preparing spiritually, technically, and mentally for their high-profile appearances.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl pregame performances are among the most watched musical events of the year, putting intense pressure on the artists to deliver flawless live vocals. The artists' different approaches highlight the personal nature of navigating this high-stakes stage, where authenticity and technical precision must be carefully balanced.

The details

Brandi Carlile plans to sing 'America the Beautiful' fully live, without any prerecorded safety net, in order to embrace the same risk she believes audiences take every day. Coco Jones, who will sing 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' is focused on repetition and understanding the emotion behind the lyrics, rather than whether the performance is fully live. Charlie Puth, performing the national anthem, is approaching it as both a vocalist and a producer, emphasizing control over the sound in the massive stadium setting.

  • The Super Bowl pregame performances will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2026.

The players

Brandi Carlile

A multi-Grammy winning singer-songwriter who will perform 'America the Beautiful' at the Super Bowl pregame show.

Coco Jones

A rising R&B artist who will sing 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' at the Super Bowl pregame show.

Charlie Puth

A pop singer-songwriter who will perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl pregame show.

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What they’re saying

“The people deserve to have you live. They need you to be taking the risk they're taking every day when they walk out into those streets.”

— Brandi Carlile

“I try to overly practice. When everything is second nature … I'm just a vessel.”

— Coco Jones

“You just make sure you don't over sing. The moment you start thinking about everybody else, you're not locked into the music. And that's when things don't sound the way they should.”

— Charlie Puth

What’s next

The artists will take the field for their highly anticipated Super Bowl pregame performances on Sunday, February 9, 2026.

The takeaway

The different approaches taken by Brandi Carlile, Coco Jones, and Charlie Puth highlight the personal nature of navigating the high-stakes Super Bowl stage, where artists must balance authenticity, technical precision, and the immense pressure of performing for a global audience.