Jon Batiste's lively Super Bowl national anthem gets the good times rolling in New Orleans

Jon Batiste injected Super Bowl 59 with soul.

After four consecutive years of country singers handling national anthem duty – Reba McEntire the most recent – Sunday's audience was granted Batiste’s rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," which melded patriotism and New Orleans panache.

The ace musician, who spent seven years as the bandleader on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and thrives by combining jazz, soul, pop and R&B, delivered a heady musical gumbo.

Seated behind a white grand piano speckled with color, Batiste brought Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Jones to tears, as the defensive player wiped his eyes with a tissue. Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, also stood with moist eyes as a rolling snare drum backed Batiste's special version of the anthem.

Batiste added a few piano runs and repeated the "land of the free" lyric three times before hitting a sweet finale of "home of the brave" under the traditional military jet flyover.

Batiste, 38, grew up in Metairie, Louisiana, and learned his craft at an early age absorbing the musical techniques of family members Lionel Batiste of the Treme Brass Band, Milton Batiste from the Olympia Brass Band and Russell Batiste Jr., who played with the Funky Meters.

The Juilliard School graduate, who won five Grammy Awards at the 2022 ceremony, including the heralded album of the year for “We Are,” debuted his “American Symphony” composition at Carnegie Hall a few months later. Prior to his Grammy domination, Batiste also won an Academy Award in 2020 for best original score for the animated film "Soul."

Last year, Batiste portrayed Billy Preston in “Saturday Night,” and also composed the film’s score.

Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty perform ‘America the Beautiful’

Flanked by an acoustic guitarist and tuba player, Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty brought a groove to a funky version of the traditional patriotic song with an interpretation that will be remembered for its lively local flavor.

Daigle, in a plaid shoulder-baring dress, landed some big notes, while Trombone Shorty took a quick solo on his instrument during a joyful read of the song. Daigle punctuating it all with a "whoo!"

A few days before her Super Bowl performance, Daigle told USA TODAY how thrilled she was to be able to collaborate with Trombone Shorty (aka Troy Andrews) on a distinctive version of the song.

As a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Daigle, 33, said the zydeco music she grew up with combined with the traditional jazz and brass of Trombone Shorty’s New Orleans upbringing, would hopefully combust for a potent combination.

“It will make you want to dance,” she said.

Mission accomplished.

Ledisi soars with performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’

In her pre-game press conference, Ledisi promised she was, “just going to be myself” while representing “NOLA Bay,” her nickname for her hometown of New Orleans and current home of Oakland, California.

As she performed the song that has been referred to by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as the Black national anthem, Ledisi looked nervous for a moment by then smiled as she leaned into the song.

In a striking white dress, hair flowing onto her shoulders, and with 125 youth choir members from the Greater New Orleans High School Choral Collective in yellow robes swaying behind her, Ledisi hit a soaring stride and escalated into a full belt by song’s end. She even ad libbed a “whoo!” before nailing a final note to fill the stadium.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jon Batiste brings New Orleans flair to Super Bowl national anthem