Andra Day prays through nervousness ahead of Super Bowl

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Andra Day normally deals with nervousness before any big show, especially in front of her peers. But the Grammy winner eventually leans on prayer to settle her anxiety.

On Sunday, Day will certainly use the same approach before she graces the Super Bowl stage as a pregame performer. She is set to Day perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing ” ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium.

“I’m a praying person. I’m a deeply spiritual person. Prayer is huge,” the soul singer told The Associated Press Thursday afternoon.

Along with Day’s performance, other pregame performers include country music star Reba McEntire who will sing the national anthem, while Post Malone will perform “America the Beautiful.” Usher is the featured halftime performer.

Last week, she earned a standing ovation after her performance at the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective event in Los Angeles.

A couple days later at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala, she performed “That’s What Friends Are For” and “What the World Needs Now is Love” onstage with Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Keyshia Cole and Frederic Yonnet.

“If I’m here, I’m of the mindset that I’m called to be here,” said Day, who’s excited about hitting the Super Bowl stage in front of millions to perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a popular hymn known within the African American community.

“It’s a huge moment,” she said. “I don’t want to just do well, but I really want people to encounter the spirit.”

Day broke through with her standout single “Rise Up.” She eventually won a Grammy and Golden Globe for her acting and musical work on the film “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.”