Fans bet on length of Jon Batiste’s National Anthem rendition ahead of Super Bowl LIX

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: Jon Batiste understood the assignment.

The Grammy-winning musician, 38, took center stage at Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9, to deliver a stunning rendition of the National Anthem before the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles went head-to-head in Super Bowl LIX—but his performance quickly became a betting battlefield.

Batiste — known for leading 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s house band for years — belted out 'The Star-Spangled Banner' as he played on the piano, stretching it to the very last possible second.

According to BetMGM’s John Ewing, the over/under time for the anthem was set at 120.5 seconds, and Batiste took it right to the 120-second mark — making things painfully close for bettors.

Over-bettors celebrate while under-bettors sulk

"Was the National Anthem over or under? BOTH! At 120 seconds, depending on the book it was both 119.5 and 120.5. Did you win or lose?" the BettingPros X account posted.

For those who gambled on Batiste stretching his performance, he did not disappoint. The singer gave three “land of the free” runs and a 10-second “brave” that had bettors celebrating.

"If I get the over 120 seconds on the national anthem I just wanna say thanks to John Batiste for the 3 'land of the free's and a 10-second 'brave,'" one fan raved online.

Another gushed: "First bet hit! Jean Batiste comes through with the over 120.5-second national anthem. Beautiful singing as well."

While some sang Batiste’s praises, others were not amused. Many under-bettors watched their potential winnings slip away in real time.

"JON BATISTE JUST SCREWED ALL UNDER BETTORS ON THAT ANTHEM," one bitter bettor fumed.

Another even accused Batiste of “spamming” the anthem for personal gain: "Jon Batiste spamming 'the land of the free' three times so his family/friends could cash the 'Over' on their ‘National-Anthem-length’ bets."

"Everyone who bet the under on the national anthem when jon batiste repeated the same line 3 times," wrote a bettor while posting a GIF.

How does Jon Batiste stack up to Super Bowl anthem history?

Jon Batiste’s performance might have felt long to some bettors, but it wasn’t even close to breaking the Super Bowl National Anthem record. That honor still belongs to Alicia Keys, who held out her 2013 performance at Super Bowl XLVII for a jaw-dropping 2 minutes and 36 seconds.

Before Alicia, Natalie Cole’s 1994 anthem ran 2 minutes and 33 seconds, keeping her in the record books for nearly two decades. Last year, Reba McEntire kept it short and sweet at one minute and 36 seconds for Super Bowl LVIII, according to the New York Post.

Batiste’s selection as the National Anthem performer was announced in November by the NFL and Roc Nation. He shared his excitement on social media.

“Music is the ultimate unifier,” he wrote at the time. “Coming home for National Anthem-Batiste xo @nfl @rocnation.”

Batiste has had plenty to celebrate lately. After winning two Grammy Awards for Best Music Film and Song Written for Visual Media, he and his wife Suleika Jaouad kept things low-key and chose to soak in the moment from the comfort of their home.

"On this lazy Sunday, life is good," Suleika captioned a cozy Instagram post of the couple lounging on their couch. “We’re so honored to win the Grammy for Best Music Film (and also for Song Written For Visual Media too!). We couldn’t make it to the ceremony but we’re beaming love from our couch to yours, and sending gratitude to all who made this film possible.”

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