Josh Levi brought his own R&B sensibility to “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the Indianapolis Colts faced the Washington Commanders in London on October 4, 2026. He also wore white-gold Grillz, making the performance a possible first: the first documented instance of a singer performing the national anthem in Grillz.
The NFL shared the moment in an official Instagram Reel, captioned “A beautiful rendition from @joshlevi.”
Levi’s Grillz were white gold, with no diamonds set in them. They added a jewelry statement to a performance already drawing attention for its vocal choices.
The reaction in the comments was divided. One viewer praised Levi’s talent; another wrote, “I am crying!!!! Oh this is so beautiful. You sound amazing. I’m so proud of you, bro.” Others criticized his vibrato and phrasing. The response reflects how personal a familiar song can become when a singer reworks it in a distinctly individual style.
Levi’s delivery was his own, and beautiful. The moment recalls a long history of artists bringing their musical identities to the anthem. José Feliciano’s guitar-led 1968 World Series performance, Marvin Gaye’s 1983 NBA All-Star Game rendition and Whitney Houston’s orchestral performance at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 each became signature interpretations. Houston sang it her way; Levi sang it his.
The game itself ended with Indianapolis defeating Washington 30–13. Levi, who grew up in Houston, first reached a national audience as a contestant on The X Factor. His screen credits include Friday Night Lights and voicing Aaron Z in Pixar’s Turning Red. “Nobody Like U,” the 4*Town song he performed for the film, received a Grammy nomination.
For jewelry and sports culture, the image is especially striking: an artist standing at the intersection of a national ritual, contemporary R&B and Grillz. Levi may be the first singer documented in history performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Grillz, a distinctive moment in both anthem performance and jewelry culture.
