Super Bowl 2019 Anthem Performer and Broadcast Details
Lady Gaga performed the national anthem before Super Bowl LIII, played on February 3, 2019, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game aired on CBS, with the anthem segment integrated into the pregame broadcast by the network and the NFL. The performance followed standard NFL protocol for the national anthem at championship events, as outlined in league broadcast guidelines and partnership agreements with networks and sponsors.
The anthem performance was part of a larger halftime and pregame show produced in coordination with the NFL, CBS, and the stadium operations team. Lady Gaga, a recording artist with multiple platinum albums, delivered a shortened version of the anthem before the kickoff. The broadcast included camera cuts, graphics, and commentary that framed the anthem as a ceremonial opening element of the game coverage.
National Anthem Protocol and NFL Broadcast Standards
The NFL requires the national anthem to be performed before every game, with teams and broadcast partners following a standardized protocol for on-field presentation, camera angles, and audio mixing. The league’s broadcast agreements with networks such as CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN specify how the anthem is introduced, aired, and integrated into pregame coverage, including the use of national feeds and local rights for stadium audio.
For Super Bowl LIII, the anthem protocol included coordination between the Atlanta Falcons, Mercedes-Benz Stadium staff, CBS production, and the NFL office. The league publishes guidelines on player and performer conduct during the anthem, and teams are expected to comply with league policies regarding standing, uniforms, and on-field behavior during the performance. These standards are part of the broader NFL broadcast and game operations manuals distributed to teams and network partners.
Commercial and Sponsorship Context Around the Anthem Segment
The anthem segment at Super Bowl LIII was embedded within a broader pregame commercial and sponsorship structure managed by the NFL and CBS. Companies such as Pepsi, Bud Light, and Hyundai paid premium rates for ad inventory surrounding the game, with the anthem serving as a transition between pregame programming and the first commercial break. The NFL’s media rights deals with CBS and other networks set the stage for how the anthem and pregame show are monetized through integrated advertising and sponsorship activations.
Super Bowl LIII ad pricing averaged around $5.2 million for a 30-second spot, according to Forbes, reflecting the high value of the audience and the ceremonial structure that includes the anthem. The anthem performance, while not a paid ad slot, functions as a branded element within the broadcast, with networks and the NFL leveraging the moment for audience retention and cross-promotion with sponsors. The NFL’s media rights and sponsorship framework ensures that the anthem segment aligns with broader commercial and broadcast strategies for the game.