Every Voice, One Nation: The National Hymn Takes the NFL Draft Stage

We are proud to announce that the James Weldon Johnson Foundation's National Hymn Choir, featuring The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, has been selected to perform at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, one of the most-watched sporting events in America.

On Thursday, April 23, preceding the National Anthem performance by Pittsburgh-raised jazz artist KELS, our National Hymn Choir will take the stage to perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the popular name for what James Weldon Johnson formally titled his "National Hymn."

Written in 1899, with lyrics by James Weldon Johnson and music by his brother J. Rosamond Johnson, the hymn was first performed in Jacksonville, Florida on February 12, 1900, as a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln. From that first performance, it captured something profound about the American experience: the unbreakable spirit of a people and the collective aspiration for justice, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Johnson himself called it a "National Hymn" because he understood from the beginning that its call was not to one group, but to all of humanity. The opening words say it plainly: lift every voice: not some voices, not certain voices, but every voice!

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a song of profound cultural and historical significance. Sung in churches, schools, and at pivotal moments in the Civil Rights Movement, its stirring verses have inspired and uplifted generations across every background and walk of life. It represents the best of American culture through great art, harmony, melody, and lyrics that speak to the universal human longing for dignity, freedom, and belonging. It is more than a song. It is a national treasure, and it always has been one for everyone.

This appearance at the NFL Draft represents a milestone moment for the Foundation and for the hymn itself. The NFL stage, with its extraordinary reach across race, region, and generation, is exactly the kind of gathering this hymn was written for. The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh brings deep local roots and extraordinary vocal power to this performance, ensuring that Johnson's words, and the movement they represent, reach new audiences across the country.

The three-day NFL Draft Entertainment Series also features headline performers Kane Brown, Wiz Khalifa, and Bret Michaels. Amid that celebrated lineup, the National Hymn Choir's opening performance on Day One stands as a profound and grounding reminder of what this hymn has always meant: that resilience, unity, and the pursuit of a more just and equal world are aspirations we all share, regardless of where we come from.

We are grateful to the NFL for this meaningful recognition, and to The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh for lending their extraordinary artistry to this moment. We invite you to join us, in Pittsburgh or from wherever you are watching, as we lift every voice together.