Andra Day performs during the Super Bowl LVIII Pregame at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Andra Day says she hasn't performed the national anthem for some time because she was waiting to sing the black national anthem first.
“I'll tell you, honestly, I haven't done the national anthem in a while because the thing I kept saying is I don't want to do it again so I can sing 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'.” ” I told Hollywood Reporter on Sunday after performing the famous chant at Super Bowl Sunday.
“The first time I heard they did it, even though it wasn't on TV with Alicia [Keys]I was ecstatic. And then to see Sheryl Lee Ralph do that, it was incredible. “Being able to stand in these women’s footsteps, or in their shoes, is truly an honor,” Day continues. “And what I loved about that song is that my mom looked at the lyrics and said, 'This is a hymn.' And that's what people forget. You know, because people get up in grief because of that. But I don't think it's always going to be that way.”
The Grammy Award-winning singer and Oscar-nominated actress added, “It's a real honor to represent our ancestors, the people who came before us, the people who really sacrificed.”
“But it was also amazing to stand up in the present and say, ‘This song is for everyone.’ “We should look at this as a beacon and a beacon of hope for the future,” she said.
Day, known for her powerful voice, says she hired vocal coach Rob Stevenson — who has worked with Justin Timberlake and Rihanna — to prepare for the performance.
“I haven't toured in a while, and I haven't been singing constantly. And then the films I've done have really changed my voice, so it was a battle of confidence. It was a battle of ability, you know? “So I really wanted to make sure I included help,” she admitted. “I was saying To my team just said: “I need help. I'm so nervous. I want to do well. And so that was it. My team helped me kind of get it together, practice, take care of my voice. And just talking through everything, praying through everything, it was A big part of it.
Although Day's performance was praised, she then said she still felt nervous: “It's crazy to even say it's over. I mean I've been so nervous and looking forward to it at the same time since November when we got the news. So it's funny I still feel nervous about something that happened. But I also feel elated. I feel grateful, and honestly I'm in this place of gratitude, to God, to every member of my team, to everyone here. I felt like the people in the field today are choosing joy. And that's a really beautiful thing.
Day won the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Original Score for Visual Media United States v. Billie HolidayHer portrayal of Holiday in the film earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. When asked which event was the most intense between award shows and the Super Bowl, she said, “Oh, you know, the Super Bowl might be the craziest. There's no crowd like a Super Bowl crowd. Oh, it's overwhelming, but in a good way. Everyone's so happy.” “
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