Brandi Carlile decided to perform at the Super Bowl to represent the queer community

Bang Showbiz on Feb 8, 2026

Published in Women

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Brandi Carlile's "moral code" was behind her decision to perform at the Super Bowl.

The 44-year-old star will sing America the Beautiful at the NFL showpiece in California on Sunday (08.02.26) between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks and explained that she felt it was imperative to represent the queer community at one of the biggest sporting events on the planet despite the turbulent political atmosphere in the US.

Brandi - who has daughters Evangeline, 11, and Elijah, seven, with her wife Catherine Shepherd - told Variety: "I have my own moral code, my own moral imperative, that I have to answer to at the end of the day, as a wife and mother, and I believe in my ability and responsibility to do this, and that's why I'm here.

"And the throughline to being queer and being a representative of a marginalised community and being put on the largest stage in America to acknowledge the fraught and tender hope that this country is based on, it's something you don't say no to. You do it."

Brandi shares the Super Bowl bill with Bad Bunny - whose selection as the halftime show performer has angered US President Donald Trump - and she doesn't think the eclectic group of performers at the game are controversial.

The Who Believes In Angels? singer said: "It looks exactly like America! It looks exactly like the United States. It looks like the players on the field, and it looks like the people that are watching the sport.

"And that's how it should look, with a lot of demographics represented, and a lot of enthusiastic people excited to celebrate a huge game on a unifying day."

Carlile added: "And I think that the folks that put together the entertainment portion of the Super Bowl this year just did a bang-up job. It's really good. Bad Bunny's incredible - an incredible spirit and performer.

"It's gonna be a fabulous halftime show."

Brandi explained that she has a vested interest in the Super Bowl as a Seahawks fan.

Asked if she'll be wearing a Seahawks jersey, she said: "You're not allowed to. But I'll have a Seahawks jersey on in my heart. You know, people say to me, 'Oh, isn't it complicated and difficult to get involved in something like the Super Bowl in these times?'

"And there's a lot of validity to that observation. I don't disagree. But it does get a little easier when it's your team."