How Much Was Jon Batiste Paid To Sing The National Anthem At The Super Bowl?
on Feb 10, 2025
Fans Have Mixed Reactions After Jon Batiste Sings At Super Bowl LIX
How much are artists like Jon Batiste paid to perform the National Anthem at the Super Bowl? We have the answer!
Super Bowl LIX was held at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome. Several Louisianna natives were chosen to perform before “The Big Game.” To honor where they’re from, the artists gave their performances a little New Orleans flair.
Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty united to deliver a jazzy, upbeat rendition of “America the Beautiful” before kickoff. Then, Jon Batiste took to the field, sat at his piano, and sang the National Anthem. He gave his rendition a soulful tone and delivered a passionate, animated performance.
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Reactions to Batiste’s performance were mixed. Some loved how he honored New Orleans with his unique rendition of the National Anthem. Others didn’t like the arrangement and would have rather heard the National Anthem in a more “traditional” style.
How Much Was Jon Batiste Paid For His Super Bowl National Anthem Performance?
Did Jon Batiste get paid to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl? And if so, how much was he paid?
The answer to the first question is..not exactly. Batiste was somewhat compensated for singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, but not as you’d expect.
Before the game, an NFL rep spoke with The Independent regarding how much this year’s halftime performer, rapper Kendrick Lamar, was paid. The rep stated that the NFL “covers all costs associated with the show and does pay the halftime performers’ union scale.” Those “costs” include travel and lodging expenses, plus the production of the show itself.
As for the union scale payment Lamar would have received, PEOPLE reports:
“[The union scale] is just a fraction of the six or seven-figure profit they usually rake in for a gig and is a minimum wage guaranteed by a union contract. According to SAG-AFTRA’s most recent contract, this would amount to over $1,000 a day.”
PEOPLE states that Jon Batiste and the other musical performers at Super Bowl LIX were “paid” in the same way. They were not paid outside of union wages.
Why do performers like Batiste agree to sing at the Super Bowl if they don’t get paid? For starters, the performance exposes them to an audience of millions, and they often see a boost in streaming and sales numbers afterward.
At the most basic level, many performers feel singing at the Super Bowl is a dream and an honor, which is why they agree to sing without payment.
Were you surprised to hear how much Jon Batiste was (or rather, wasn’t) paid for singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl this year?
