Jon Batiste’s unique take on the US National Anthem at the Super Bowl has sparked a firestorm online, with somefans slamming his performance as over-the-top, while others defended it as a unique and powerful tribute.
The Oscar and Grammy-winning musician put his own jazzy, soulful spin on The Star-Spangled Banner , bringing a touch of his New Orleans roots to the performance. Some fans loved it, calling it “a cool, fresh take” and praising Batiste’s journey from local talent to Hollywood and Grammy glory.
“He came a long way from New Orleans to Hollywood, Oscars, and the Grammys to sing this anthem. Yeah, it’s #BlackHistoryMonth,” one supporter wrote. Another called him “a national treasure.”
But not everyone was on board. Social media quickly filled with criticism, with many accusing Batiste of over-singing and dragging out the anthem unnecessarily.
“That was painful to listen to. Why do artists feel the need to mess with a song that doesn’t need ‘fixing’?” one viewer complained. Another added, “Jon Batiste was doing way too much. Just sing the anthem, man.”
One moment in particular had people talking—Batiste repeated the phrase “land of the free” three times, a choice that some saw as dramatic flair, while others joked that it could be a strategic move for Super Bowl betting.
Every year, fans place over/under bets on the length of the anthem, and this year’s line was set at 120 seconds (2 minutes). Batiste’s rendition clocked in at 120.5 seconds—just half a second over. That led to plenty of conspiracy theories, with one fan joking, “Jon Batiste spamming ‘land of the free’ so his family could cash in on the over.”
Batiste, who has worked with legends like Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Alicia Keys, is no stranger to the spotlight, but his Super Bowl performance has quickly become one of the most talked-about in recent memory.