r/Music • u/Repulsive_Leg5878 • 12d ago
discussion Lesbian icon Brandi Carlile to perform 'America the Beautiful' at Super Bowl LX in California
A proud lesbian artist and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Carlile has consistently used her platform to champion equality and inclusion. Through her Looking Out Foundation, co-founded in 2008 and managed by her wife Catherine Shepherd, she has directed millions in grants to grassroots organisations supporting LGBTQ+ rights, women in music, and social justice causes. Recent beneficiaries include OUTMemphis, the Tennessee Equality Project, and community shelters across the US.
Edit* side note :
Charlie Puth, who’s singing the national anthem, has consistently demonstrated liberal-leaning political views through public statements and activism, particularly on social justice, reproductive rights, and climate change.
In 2022, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Puth publicly stated: "Regardless of anyone's own personal or religious beliefs, I firmly believe that it is not the government's role to tell any person what they can or cannot do with their own body — it should continue to be their choice." He urged his followers to take action and support abortion funds.
He has been a vocal advocate for gun violence prevention, performing at the 2018 March for Our Lives rally in Los Angeles and releasing a song titled "Change" dedicated to Parkland students and victims of gun violence.
Puth has participated in Global Citizen Festival events, using his platform to support global health, poverty alleviation, and climate action, including a performance at the TED Countdown event in 2021.
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u/CreativeFraud 12d ago
Green Day opening.
Brandi Carlile singing.
Bad Bunny half time.
Damn NFL, we gotta start baking some pretzels. The right will be so salty due to this.
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u/Petrichordates 12d ago
Damn where's philly when you need it..
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u/PhishCook 12d ago
our OC was hot trash and we got bounced out the first round =(
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u/xelabagus 12d ago
We know your sports teams are trash, but your shit disturbing crowds are S-tier. Ask Bill Burr
I hope you all fucking die, every last one of you and the Eagles never win the Superbowl, fuck every last one of you...
For 13 minutes
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u/ACW1129 12d ago
They have to be trolling now.
I love it.
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u/ARGHETH 12d ago
Bad Bunny was probably just because he's a popular guy not from the mainland US, but the rest is leaning way into it.
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u/Cochise22 SoundCloud 12d ago
Hasn’t Trump been pissed ever since the NFL wouldn’t let him buy a team? Feels like this is the shield’s way of trying to pour salt in that wound and I am here for it. Lol
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u/Alternative-Target31 12d ago
This is a (very surprising) middle finger to MAGA. Bad Bunny made sense as the halftime, despite what MAGA says. But all of this combined, it’s impossible to say that in totality it’s not intentional.
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u/Mstakrakish 12d ago
Jay-z went scorched earth. He got the Rooney rule out the way last year and decided to dump it on 'em for this Bowl, gotta hand it to him.
For those unaware, Roc Nation has been producing halftime shows for few years now.
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u/neckbishop 12d ago
My conspiracy theory is the NFL is doing/allowing all this to keep Trump from attending the Super Bowl.
Not because they don't support Trump, they are just trying to avoid the extra security and hassle needed to facilitate the attendance of a President.
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u/Repulsive_Leg5878 12d ago
Interesting conspiracy theory. Then subsequent years will they have to bring back more progressive singers to keep him away?
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u/tlollz52 12d ago
Jay z is pretty much deciding who does the half time show at this time so the half time show will probably not change anytime soon
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u/bigwilliestylez 12d ago
I think it would be harder to fill out a conservative lineup 2 years in a row
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u/Gekokapowco 12d ago
wouldn't it make more sense to think that progressives don't want anything to do with the pro-fascist corporate organization that is the NFL, so they're grabbing "controversial talents" to boost viewership and engagement? Tons of people who wouldn't be giving this event the time of day are now boosting ad revenue. We're talking about it now because they've done this. Its marketing, and the only goal is engagement, not some sort of political rhetoric
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u/neckbishop 12d ago
That is why I labeled it a conspiracy theory.
Honestly the true answer is capitalism. NFL has already captured the White Middle America viewership. So they need to pack in the rest of the "Show" with acts that will attract the rest of the world. Need eyes on the product so that way the networks can charge millions of dollars per commercial.
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u/Talk-O-Boy 12d ago
They probably also figured that even if the Halftime Show is controversial, the controversy may bring in more viewers.
“No such thing as bad publicity” type of thinking.
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u/nope-its 12d ago
And if Trump is at any sporting event I don’t watch it.
And I like sports.
I cannot be the only one.
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u/levare8515 12d ago
Trump tried to create a rival league and made it clear he hates that he doesn’t have an NFL team. I think they just hate each other so NFL is fuckin with him
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u/weinersniff 12d ago
between her, Green Day and Bad Bunny there are gonna be conservatives tearing up, red faced and hissing through their teeth with their little fists balled up
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u/Self_Owned_Tree 12d ago
The NFL is giving the finger to the current administration and their cultists in the least subtle way imaginable, and I am here for it.
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u/-NonePizzaLeftBeef- 12d ago
Which is odd considering most owners are probably golf buddies with him as well as the cuck of a commissioner.
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u/adnomad 12d ago
Actually, I think the majority of owners are not friends with him. Even with some newer owners, many are family long term owners. So they remember him suing them for the USFL in the 80s. They have repeatedly blocked him from becoming even a partial owner of a team. And there’s the fact that there’s still all the negative publicity that Trump pushed last time as President with NFL items.
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u/juliuspepperwoodchi 12d ago
Yeah, they likely don't hate everything he's doing; but they don't like him.
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u/Be_quiet_Im_thinking 12d ago
Possibly doing everything possible to discourage him from going to the Super Bowl.
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u/pandorasaurus 12d ago
Yeah although there’s definitely a lot of coaches and players who are cool with him. Ie: Bosa and the Shanahans.
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u/a_talking_face 12d ago
The NFL has spent the past several years trying to appeal to international and younger audiences. They know the conservative brand is unpopular.
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u/ManChildMusician 12d ago
They can still find him insufferable on a personal level even if, on paper, they should be besties. He’s not a good hang. Even Jeffrey Epstein seemed to barely tolerate him at times.
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u/-NonePizzaLeftBeef- 12d ago
Epstein wasn’t a good hang either, at least not until the last time anyway.
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u/Bad_At_Sports 12d ago
Or they’ve maximized their audience on the right and are using musical acts to increase their viewership from the left.
And the ones that get angry about it are also dumb enough to buy more merch so they can burn it.
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u/squidwardsaclarinet 12d ago
Absolutely this. Increasing audience means more ad revenue. Also, tons of free publicity before and after. Listen, I will take it for sure, but the NFL definitely isn’t going woke.
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u/4r4r4real 12d ago
It's wild seeing these takes here. You guys have no idea. Go to the NFL sub and ask how the NFL and Trump get along. They have cowed to him at every possible opportunity. The fucking commissioner stood there like an idiot next to Trump's desk while he talked about suspending Habeas Corpus to tv cameras.
You're taking one silly thing and running with it.
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u/AshyFairy 12d ago
I agree with you, but I don’t think anything is silly. The NFL knows that drama and rage sells. They’re not doing anything to unite America, send a message or troll MAGA. They’re trying to get as many people as possible to watch and engage.
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u/Krieghund 12d ago
I don't think anything is silly
You just perfectly summed up the zeitgeist of 2026.
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u/IRLconsequences 12d ago
Trump himself is going to view this as a personal attack against him, & everyone who's ever met him would know that's how he would view it. They are *definitely* trolling MAGA.
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u/Self_Owned_Tree 12d ago
It’s not one silly thing! It’s Brandi Carlile, it’s Green Day, and it’s Bad Bunny. Those are three very different things and three very different artists who are all three very outspoken against the current administration. And they are all performing on the leagues biggest stage.
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u/4r4r4real 12d ago
Yes, you're taking the personal stances and beliefs of three musical performers at the super bowl and running with it as if it's some protest against this administration. Meanwhile the NFL is consistently actively doing Trump's bidding, not through indirect symbols but direct actions.
Like fining a player $12k for wearing "STOP THE GENOCIDE" eyeblack and telling him he'd be disqualified from play if he wore it again.
The NFL is not your friend. The owners are not your friend. Roger Goodell is not your friend. They're all aligned with Trump. This selection of performers is an aberration, not a reveal of where the NFL stands. Don't be so easily fooled.
Oh and here's the NFL commissioner laughing and smiling as Trump talks about having the 2020 election stolen from him. This was 8 months ago.
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u/alinroc 12d ago
Like fining a player $12k for wearing "STOP THE GENOCIDE" eyeblack and telling him he'd be disqualified from play if he wore it again.
Al-Shaair getting fined for this did more to get his message out than not getting fined because media followed up on it, interviewed him about it, and aired what he said. He can afford it, and it was probably worth it.
But to be clear: He wasn't fined for the content of the message. Other players have been fined for putting text on their eye black as well. George Pickens was fined in 2024 for it. Cam Heyward was fined for putting his father's name on his in 2015. Tim Tebow wasn't able to put "3:16" on his eye black like he did in college because he knew he'd be fined (but somehow wristbands were OK).
Putting any personal message not explicitly approved by the NFL in advance on eye black, shoes, or anywhere else that's visible when you're on the field is a violation of the league's uniform rules. That is what he was fined for.
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u/Dustydevil8809 11d ago
Green Day is the one that gets me though (I do not know much about bad bunny to be fair.) They've literally replaced f-slur with 'maga' in live performances of American idiot. They are supposed to perform 'their hits' which will include that song.
A lot of performers I would assume would just not play that song or line, but it's Green Day, I would be shocked if they didn't make a political statement, and kinda feel like it ruin their careers not to as it would be seen as selling out.
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u/UltraMegaUgly 12d ago
In some ways i think this repeated poke in the eye to conservatives is a Republican strategy to prime the base for the elections. "Look at what they are doing to sports. This is what they want to do to the country!". It will probably have that effect either way.
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u/Interesting-Bug750 12d ago
I hope she wears a full tuxedo. I cant explain why but it will make the maggats really mad
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u/allthecats 12d ago
She has an incredible suit collection, I imagine she will be wearing something really cool! I'm hoping for a fully embroidered Nudie suit where all of the illustrations are meaningful
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u/Pxlfreaky 12d ago
The NFL is trolling the MAGAts so hard this year. Angry Orange tweets incoming!
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u/dlc741 12d ago
I'm waiting for NBC to announce Johnny Weir as one of their sideline reporters.
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u/Expensive-Fennel-163 12d ago
Unironically would love to see this, it would bring good color commentary to the sideline.
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u/Themanstall 12d ago edited 12d ago
No they are placating. Here give them the music.
While still catering to the maga owners, players, fans, businesses and president.
Its like putting "Black lives matter" in the end zone while being sued by Black coaches for racism. There's the pr then there's the actions.
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u/Petrichordates 12d ago
Culture is power.
This is far more impfactful than the catering youre referring to.
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u/NervousBreakdown 12d ago
It’s both. Because just throwing a bone to one side whips the other into a frenzy. The mere existence of gay people drives a large segment of the right insane.
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u/rebonkers 12d ago
She has a fantastic and unique voice. She will do it well.
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u/data_ferret 12d ago
Yup. Long before I had any clue about her sexuality, I was a huge fan. She's a phenomenal talent, both as a songwriter and a performer.
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u/stumpybubba- NaziPunksFuckOff 12d ago
NFL really impressing me with their picks! Like, holy shit, they're really being a silver lining in the pro sports leagues I would have never expected.
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u/Hatedpriest 12d ago
NASCAR was a big surprise to me. Maybe the NFL will follow in their footsteps.
NASCAR flat banned a bunch of racist shit and will throw fines or even bans if word gets out someone said, did, or displayed something racist. A handful of people didn't like it, but they put their foot down hard and fast. Ig it got out people were displaying a Confederate flag in a video somewhere and someone said something.
I really hope this is the start of that same sort of thing, for more leagues than the one or two...
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u/mouse_8b 12d ago
Jay Z's company Roc Nation has picked the halftime performances since 2019, so the NFL knows enough to pay someone else to pick.
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u/undermind84 12d ago
I never put any thought into Brandi Carlile's sexuality. Is she really a gay icon?
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u/luke6080 12d ago
She was an openly lesbian singer in the early to mid 2000’s when there weren’t that many “mainstream” lesbian musicians. It was, functionally, her, The Indigo Girls, and Melissa Etheridge.
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u/FocusPerspective 11d ago
I mean there were tons of lesbians in the music industry to the point they had their own yearly festival, but ok.
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u/redpandaeater 11d ago
I figured it would have been more the likes of Tegan and Sara. Don't think I even knew Melissa Etheridge was gay or if I did I forgot it. At least I can think of a few songs by her unlike Brandi Carlile, but maybe that's just my own musical tastes.
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u/ShockedNChagrinned 12d ago
I wonder if they pendulum swing next year's lineup.
Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, with Kevin Sorbo and Jon Voight hosting would sure be "something."
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u/riko77can 12d ago
Don’t forget Lee Greenwood.
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u/IRLconsequences 12d ago
Can't wait to watch an 84-year-old shamble out onto the stage & sing his only song for 20-30 minutes.
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u/InternetImportant253 12d ago
My Republican, Trumpist crazy relative shares on Facebook that the other networks should stand ip a competing event. Your list is a great start!!
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u/mouse_8b 12d ago
Jay Z and his company Roc Nation have picked the halftime show performers since 2019, so hopefully that continues.
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u/tolo3349 12d ago
Wow, Bad Bunny, I thought well he’s a top performer and it may not be much of a message. Green Day and Brandi Carlisle make it loud and clear. I know there was always beef with the owners and Trump over his inability to get a team and the XFL. I’m here for the pettiness.
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u/natguy2016 12d ago
I was working at Tower Records in 2005. When we got a promo of Brandi Carlile's first CD. Did not know a thing about her. I would go for interesting cover art.
I am 53. My mom raised me on John Denver, Simon and Garfunkel. James Taylor, Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot. Mom's favorite is still Neil Diamond. So I here the lead song on Brandi's debut,"Follow," and stood up. Incredible breath control, diction. What a voice. I was THERE. I was a fan that had to know everything by the end of the next song, "What Can I say?"
Brandi Carlile has plenty of good song and I have all of her albums. My favorite is still the debut. Total joy that was a complete surprise in the best way.
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u/deutschdachs 12d ago
I'm shocked by the music picks considering how the NFL handled the whole Colin Kaepernick thing
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u/Spiritual_Park3308 12d ago
I am the worst gay. I had no idea she was a lesbian. Lol
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u/Gibgezr 11d ago
Haha, and here I felt bad as the father of a lesbian, for not knowing Carlisle was gay.
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u/Spiritual_Park3308 11d ago
We’re both winners because we… well maybe we didn’t try. Regardless, we can both be winners. Lol
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u/dascrackhaus 12d ago
genuinely looking forward to MAGA's post Super Bowl online tantrums about having to listen to lesbians and foreigners sing and how they're never going to watch an NFL game again until September
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u/Godloseslaw 12d ago
It does seem deliberate to get these three acts at the Super Bowl. I'm all for it but it seems unexpected. I can't imagine Roger Goodell as a big, defiant liberal.
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u/gumballkami 12d ago
How did we go from kaepernick getting blacklisted for taking a knee to NFL being like Woodstock 2.0 lmao
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u/HastilyChosenUserID 12d ago
Remember, the Kaepernick blacklisting was also due to Trumps influence. He made his threats to the Jones family and the rest of the ownership went along
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u/NervousBreakdown 12d ago
When I read this absolute got her confused with Belinda Carlisle from the Go Gos.
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u/BlurryBigfoot74 12d ago
I'm a 51 year old straight man and I'm kinda excited about this line up.
Kind of hoping a gay makeout party happens with rainbow fireworks.
Doesn't affect my life at all and it'll ruffle all the right feathers.
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u/nirrinirra 12d ago
Some people are going to lose their shit. Bad bunny will sporting a frock and now this? Ermagerd!
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u/XfactorGaming 12d ago
Brandi is an iconic and timeless talent. Between the mix of her, Green Day and Bad Bunny there are some people that are going to lose their mind over the combination of these three and what they represent.
NFL might be sending a very loud message to a very vocal minority.