Andra Day on How She's Preparing to Perform 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' at Super Bowl LVIII (Exclusive)

Andra Day is opening up about how she is feeling ahead of her Super Bowl LVIII performance and how she's preparing to "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

The singer, 39, sat down with ET's Kevin Frazier just hours after it was announced she would sing during the big event and spoke about the upcoming gig, which she found out about two months ago. Despite the early heads-up, she says that her nerves have yet to dissipate.

"I think I got the call in November when they let me know that like, yes, we're greenlit to do it and I remember having a very peculiar feeling," the "Rise Up" crooner said. "I was like, 'Why do I feel like it was, like, visceral?' I was like, 'Why am I nervous?' Terrified. I had butterflies in my stomach in November for something that's gonna happen in February."

The GRAMMY Award winner and Oscar nominee says that while she is still anxious about her live singing gig in front of the entire nation, the prevailing feeling is gratitude and pride in getting the chance to sing a song with such deep meaning.

"I was so nervous but very, very excited. Grateful. And also, just an honor. It's an honor to be singing the Black national anthem," she continued.

The song, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," was originally written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson as a prayer hymn. In 1919, the song was adopted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as the "Black national anthem."

At last year's Super Bowl, Abbott Elementary star and Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph took the field to perform the same song. Day said she recently had the pleasure of speaking with the singer and actress, and during their conversation, they discovered that they are birthday twins, both born on Dec. 30 -- Ralph in 1956 and Day in 1984.

Day told ET that it's a privilege to be tasked with singing the song in front of the nation and that she is honored and grateful to the NFL for airing it live.

"I'm glad that they are airing it on the Super Bowl," she said. "I think it's a really important song and an important moment. You know, not just because [of] me singing it, but just the song at the Super Bowl itself is an important moment."

As for how she is preparing to be in the spotlight in front of millions -- on average, the event garners more than 110 million viewers -- Day is already hard as work, even if that means resting. She said that after starring in The United States Vs. Billie Holliday -- a role that earned her an Oscar nom -- she has learned the importance of giving her vocal cords a break.

"After Billie, after, you know, those movies, it took a toll definitely on my voice. So just trying to rest my voice. Take care of it," Day told ET, adding that she is also working with vocal coach and artist Stevie Mackey to prep the song.

"I actually walked into my first session with him the other day, and I was like, 'I've never felt so understood in such a short period of time. So really, I'm very excited just for, you know, the help that he's offering," Day said, adding that singer-songwriter Adam Blackstone is also working with her. "And I'm gonna do what I always do, which is pray."

The singer was just one of three performers to be announced on Thursday who will take part in the Super Bowl festivities, as country singer Reba McEntire will lead the national anthem and Post Malone will sing "America the Beautiful." Heading up the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show this year is Usher.

In a nod to inclusivity, the pregame entertainment and Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show will feature American Sign Language performances. Representing the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), actor Daniel Durant, renowned for his role in the Academy Award-winning movie CODA, will deliver an ASL rendition of the national anthem.

Actress, model and dancer Anjel Pinero will sign "America the Beautiful," adding a visual spectacle to the performance.

Shaheem Sanchez, a talented actor and choreographer, will sign "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and debut the ASL rendition of the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.

The Super Bowl will air Feb. 11 on CBS from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Day's new single, “Where Do We Go,” releases on Jan. 19. Her second studio album, Cassandra, will be out this spring.

For more related stories, check out the links below.

RELATED CONTENT: 

Why Usher’s Super Bowl Preparation Took an Unexpected Turn

Super Bowl 2024: Reba McEntire to Perform the National Anthem

Usher on What Fans Can Expect From His Super Bowl Halftime Performance

The Best Super Bowl TV Deals to Shop Before The Big Game