Lady Gaga Performs Touching Tribute to Kick Off Super Bowl LIX Pregame
“Tonight we come together because that’s who we are and that’s what we do,” Michael Strahan told viewers of the Fox Super Bowl LIX pregame during an opening segment dedicated to victims of tragedies around the country, including New Orleans and Los Angeles.
The segment began with Strahan and former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady walking onto New Orleans’ famous Bourbon street. “This year began with a terror attack that tried to shatter its spirit,” Strahan said to the camera.
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“But the resilience of New Orleans is matched by the resolve of our country,” Brady, wearing a Los Angeles Fire Department shirt, continued. “When tragedy strikes, we don’t break, we come together. We rise above and never let evil win.”
Strahan explained that as everyone prepares for “sport’s biggest day,” they gathered together “with heavy hearts” for the families and friends “from North Carolina to Los Angeles, from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia.”
Lady Gaga then kicked off what appeared to be a pre-taped performance on Bourbon Street of her 2022 Oscar-nominated song, “Hold My Hand,” from Top Gun: Maverick. The Mayhem singer was dressed in ethereal all-white out, playing the piano and singing for a large crowd of people in “NOLA Strong” shirts, police officers, members of the U.S. military and more.
The performance was a surprise for viewers, as it was not previously announced she’d be performing at any point during the game.
The somber yet inspiring performance comes on the heels of a busy week for the singer. Gaga released a new track, “Abracadabra,” from her upcoming album, Mayhem, during a commercial break of the 2025 Grammys. The “Shallow” singer announced her highly anticipated seventh studio album the week prior following a slew of teasers, including a website countdown and cross country billboards. Mayhem is set to be released on March 7. A full tracklist is expected to be announced at a later date.
Also during the pregame entertainment, Jon Batiste performed the National Anthem, Ledisi sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle performed “America the Beautiful.” Other performers included Harry Connick Jr. with jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard, the Soul Rebels and the Original Pinettes.
Check out The Hollywood Reporter‘s Super Bowl coverage here.
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