Joe Jonas to Kick Off WrestleMania 42 Night 2 with National Anthem Performance

The pop star's appearance continues WWE's trend of celebrity involvement at its biggest annual event.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:37am

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An extreme close-up photograph of shimmering, high-contrast sequins in metallic gold, silver, and deep blue tones, capturing the glamorous aesthetic of a major live event production.The dazzling visuals and celebrity involvement aim to elevate WrestleMania 42 into a must-see entertainment spectacle.Las Vegas Today

WWE has announced that multi-platinum recording artist Joe Jonas will perform the National Anthem to open WrestleMania 42 Night 2 on April 19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This continues the company's efforts to attract mainstream viewership and create buzz around its biggest annual event, which has featured musical performances from stars like Aretha Franklin, Snoop Dogg, and Jelly Roll in the past.

Why it matters

WWE has increasingly incorporated celebrity involvement at WrestleMania in recent years, drawing both praise and criticism from fans. While the appearances aim to drive broader interest in the event, some feel the celebrity focus detracts from the core wrestling action. Joe Jonas' performance will be closely watched as an indicator of how WWE balances its wrestling roots with mainstream appeal.

The details

Jonas, best known as a member of the Jonas Brothers pop group, will sing the National Anthem to kick off the second night of WrestleMania 42, which is headlined by the World Heavyweight Championship match between Roman Reigns and CM Punk. WWE has continued its trend of featuring big-name musical acts at its marquee event, with past performers including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Snoop Dogg, and Jelly Roll.

  • Joe Jonas will perform the National Anthem on April 19, 2026, to open WrestleMania 42 Night 2.

The players

Joe Jonas

A multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated recording artist, best known as a member of the pop group Jonas Brothers.

WWE

The professional wrestling promotion that produces the annual WrestleMania event.

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What they’re saying

“Multi-platinum and grammy-nominated recording artist @joejonas will be performing the National Anthem to kick off WrestleMania 42 Sunday!”

— WWE

What’s next

WWE has not yet announced a performer for the opening of WrestleMania 42 Night 1, so there could be another high-profile musical act revealed in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Joe Jonas' WrestleMania 42 performance is the latest example of WWE's efforts to blend wrestling with mainstream pop culture, a strategy that has drawn both excitement and criticism from the company's fanbase. While the celebrity appearances aim to drive broader interest, some fans feel the focus on non-wrestling elements detracts from the core in-ring action.