How Coco Jones Honored Whitney Houston in Super Bowl 2026 Performance

Coco Jones kicked off the 2026 Super Bowl with a touchdown homage.

The singer beautifully performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” just before the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks played at Levi’s Stadium on February 8th.

Coco honored Whitney Houston with her outfit while singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often called the Black national anthem. She wore a white, cropped athletic jacket with a red stripe on the chest and right sleeve, and combined it with a flowing, high-low skirt that had a peplum detail.

The 28-year-old took inspiration from Whitney Houston’s iconic 1991 Super Bowl outfit – the tracksuit she wore while singing the “Star Spangled Banner” – and worked with designer Karl Kani to recreate the look.

She told Entertainment Tonight she couldn’t wait for people to notice the similarities in the designs. She collaborated with Karl, whom she calls the ‘godfather of hip-hop and fashion,’ on the project and is thrilled he’s getting recognition for his contribution.

The actress from Bel-Air, one of the performers for the evening alongside Green Day, Charlie Puth, and Bad Bunny, talked about how she was getting ready for the big show.

She explained at Apple Music’s press conference on February 5th that the song ‘Lift Every Voice’ resonates with her because of its hopeful and determined message, something she believes everyone can connect with in their own way. She described truly listening to the words and allowing herself to feel their personal meaning, which then inspired her reaction to the song.

And the honor isn’t lost on her, either.

It’s incredible following such talented performers, and I really feel like I’ve earned this moment. I deserve this opportunity. I try to focus on the positive and remember what an honor it is, rather than feeling pressured.

To see all the stars at the 2026 Super Bowl, keep reading.

Jay-Z took his daughters, ages 14 and 8, to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, in 2026. Beyoncé was also there with them.

The rapper took photos before the Seahawks and Patriots played their big game.

The longtime Patriots fan attended the game to introduce his fav NFL team before kickoff.

The Marvel actor was there to officially welcome the Seattle Seahawks and made it a special day by bringing his son along.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who is engaged to Taylor Swift, didn’t reach the championship game this year, but he was there to cheer on his team from the sidelines.