Just a day is left for the Super Bowl LVII rematch! The energy, the stakes, the legacy on the line—it’s all building up to one epic showdown. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles are set to take the stage at Caesars Superdome, and the entire nation is holding its breath. As the thrill is building up, let’s take a glance at the Super Bowl pregame entertainment.
So, this year, the Super Bowl pregame will have some Louisiana essence in New Orleans. Celebrity performers like Jon Batiste will hit the stage to sing the national anthem, while Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle will be performing “America the Beautiful.” Among all these talks, Otis Jones is also making his appearance in the showdown’s headlines.
Who is Otis Jones?
If there’s one title that truly defines actor and artist Otis Jones, it’s a “powerful voice.” Perhaps, no words could do him justice. With over 600,000 followers on TikTok and 130,000 on Instagram, Jones is making his presence in the deaf community and beyond.
Otis Jones IV has become a well-known sign language singer in America. But his journey wasn’t always that easy. Growing up deaf in a hearing family came with struggles. Communication barriers, feeling out of place—it was all tough for the artist. But Jones found his voice through sign language and music, turning his passion into purpose.
Now, he’s lighting up major festivals like Rolling Loud, Bonnaroo, and ACL, proving that music isn’t just something you hear, it’s something you feel. And to make the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” feel, Otis Jones will be hitting up the stage in the Super Bowl LIX this time in American sign language. Talking about the same, Jones said on Thursday, “To be performing at the Super Bowl in New Orleans is a huge honor.” Indeed, it’s a huge blessing and honor for an artist to grace the powerful stage in front of millions of NFL fans.
Beyond the stage, Otis Jones is also fighting for a change. Through online teaching and advocacy, he’s opening minds, breaking barriers, and pushing for a world where Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals are truly seen and heard—something which he was deprived of earlier.
Who are Otis Jones’s parents?
As we mentioned, Otis Jones IV is the only deaf person in his family, who wears a Cochlear implant and a hearing aid to perform music. Although not much is known about his family or parents as they keep their identity private, Jones IV once shared a video with them on his social media platforms. His dad, Otis Jones III, accompanied the artist in preparing Cowboy Steak & Vegetables in ASL. That video got thousands of likes from his fans, as Jones IV too asked his followers to show some love for his dad.
In addition, Otis Jones also shared a similar cooking video for breakfast foods in ASL. But this time, with his mommy. He introduced his mother to his followers in March 2021 and revealed in the caption – “doing this video with my mom meant a lot to me. It was something that I didn’t know I needed to do. Growing up being the only one deaf in a big family, I didn’t realize until later in life exploring the deaf culture that ASL (American Sign Language) is a BIG part of who I am today. Not gonna lie to you, I kind of lost myself but now I’m starting to find myself.”
Later, Jones also made sure to ask for some love for his mother too, besides thanking his “family for always supporting & believing” in him since his birth.
What is Otis Jones’s ethnicity and nationality?
Otis Jones is a Black American music video creator and an advocate for the Deaf community. He hails from Atlanta, Georgia. But his parents originally belong to a different place.
According to multiple reports, Jones IV’s parents and grandparents come from New Orleans. Hence, singing the Black national Anthem in his ASL, it would be a very special night for him too, as the Super Bowl LIX is kicking off in New Orleans itself.
The Super Bowl is set to take place on Sunday, February 9 from 6:30 p.m. onwards.
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