Coco Jones Pays Tribute to Whitney Houston's Super Bowl Legacy

The singer will perform the Black National Anthem at Super Bowl LX in a custom tracksuit honoring Houston's iconic 1991 look.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Coco Jones, a 28-year-old Grammy winner, will perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing" - also known as the Black National Anthem - during the pregame show at Super Bowl LX. Jones and her orchestra will wear custom-designed Japanese nylon tracksuits inspired by the outfit worn by Whitney Houston when she famously sang the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV in 1991. The Black anthem has strong ties to Florida, where both Houston and Jones' performances took place.

Why it matters

Whitney Houston's 1991 Super Bowl performance is considered a pop culture milestone, and her influence continues to be felt 35 years later. Coco Jones's tribute honors Houston's legacy and the significance of the Black National Anthem as a symbol of resilience and hope for the African American community.

The details

Stylist Sankara Xasha Turé designed the tracksuits for Jones and her orchestra, stating that "for the Black national anthem, you go to the first streetwear Black designer." The all-white suits feature Jones's name and "Super Bowl 2026" on the back of the cropped jackets. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was originally performed by 500 school children in Jacksonville, Florida, for Abraham Lincoln's birthday in 1900 and later became an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement.

  • In 1991, Whitney Houston performed the 'Star Spangled Banner' at Super Bowl XXV.
  • Super Bowl LX will take place in 2026, 35 years after Houston's iconic performance.

The players

Coco Jones

A 28-year-old Grammy winner who will perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at Super Bowl LX.

Whitney Houston

The legendary vocalist whose 1991 Super Bowl national anthem performance inspired Jones's tribute outfit.

Sankara Xasha Turé

A hip-hop stylist who designed the custom tracksuits for Jones and her orchestra.

James Weldon Johnson

The NAACP leader who wrote the poem "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in 1900, which later became the Black National Anthem.

John Rosamond Johnson

The brother of James Weldon Johnson who set the poem to music, creating the Black National Anthem.

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What they’re saying

“I've designed for a lot of brands, but I knew that for the Black national anthem, you go to the first streetwear Black designer.”

— Sankara Xasha Turé, Hip-hop stylist (The New York Times)

“Today my boo boo @cocojones will sing 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' at the Pregame !!!”

— Loni Love (Instagram)

“Lift Every Voice and Sing,' often called the Black National Anthem, was written as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson in 1900 and set to music by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. Originally performed by 500 school children in Jacksonville, Florida, for Abraham Lincoln's birthday, it became a powerful anthem of resilience, faith, and hope for African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement.”

— Loni Love (Instagram)

What’s next

The performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Coco Jones and her orchestra at Super Bowl LX's pregame show will be a highly anticipated moment celebrating Black history and resilience.

The takeaway

Coco Jones's tribute to Whitney Houston's iconic Super Bowl performance showcases the enduring legacy of Black music and culture, and the power of using fashion and song to honor important moments in history.