Coco Jones brought fashion, history, and intention to the Super Bowl stage.
Ahead of kickoff at Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8, 2026, the singer delivered ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ in a custom Karl Kani-designed ensemble that pulled from the cultural memory of Whitney Houston’s iconic 1991 Super Bowl look.
In an exclusive conversation, Karl Kani described the moment as one of those career highlights that stays with you.
“Oh man, it’s such an iconic moment,” Kani told Blex Media. “I’ve been doing this since 1989, and there are certain moments you’ll never forget. This is one of those moments that’s going to live with us forever — to be on that stage, during Black History Month, just an iconic moment straight up.”
A tribute with its own point of view
The creative direction behind the look came from stylist and creative Sankara Xasha Turé, who collaborated closely with Coco’s stylist, Vance Gamble, to bring the concept to life. Turé positioned the styling as a tribute to Houston’s legacy — and a chance to build something timeless that could stand on its own.
“We wanted to create a timeless rendition to pay homage to her,” Turé said. “So we kept the orchestra classic — all the way down to the Nike Cortez — and then we made Coco’s look more elaborate.”
That balance between “classic” and “elevated” became the blueprint. Coco’s look leaned into a performance-ready silhouette while still holding onto the DNA of sportswear — a visual bridge between Houston’s era-defining Super Bowl fashion moment and the present-day language of style, stagecraft, and Black cultural symbolism.
Why Karl Kani — and why it mattered on this stage
Turé also emphasized that the decision to work with Kani wasn’t just about fashion. It was about placing a Black legacy brand in a moment seen by millions — and doing it with intention.
“We did have the opportunity to go to other brands, and they liked the design,” Turé explained. “But I just felt like it was important to make sure Karl Kani’s story continues and that the legacy gets told.”
For Turé, the moment carried even more weight because of what Kani represents within the larger arc of hip-hop, streetwear, and the way those worlds shaped mainstream fashion.
“We’re in the middle of fast fashion,” he said. “So paying homage to where we started — and who helped build the foundation — matters.”
Inside the collaboration
Turé was clear that the final result was a true team effort: Kani as the designer, Turé guiding the creative concept and direction, and Vance as the wardrobe stylist who helped execute the overall styling for Coco.
“Vance is our wardrobe stylist,” Turé said. “I came up with the creative direction, but he’s our wardrobe stylist. We’ve been working together for about 10 years, so this was his moment too.”
Turé added that the process involved multiple moving pieces — including additional designers and specialty collaborators — all in service of getting the look stage-ready for a high-pressure, high-visibility performance.
Turé confirmed several key styling choices that anchored the vision:
- Classic, orchestral styling cues to match the tone of the performance
- Nike Cortez in a coordinated black-and-white direction for the orchestra
- A color update that incorporated red, black, and green — a nod to Pan-African symbolism — as part of the visual language of the moment
“We did a black-and-white rendition,” Turé said, noting the team also adjusted accent details to include red, black, and green “for the African American flag,” referencing the widely recognized Pan-African color symbolism.
The end result: a look that read as ceremonial and modern at once — rooted in a past reference point, but built to live in the present.
‘This is one of those moments’
For Kani, the Super Bowl spotlight landed as both validation and legacy — especially as the brand continues to be reintroduced to new generations who may know the aesthetic without fully knowing the origin story.
“It’s going to live with us forever,” Kani said, reflecting on seeing the design on one of the biggest stages in entertainment and sports.
And for Turé, the point wasn’t only the homage — it was the message inside the decision-making: that Black cultural icons can be celebrated in real time, with Black creatives shaping the narrative from concept to execution.
The Super Bowl is built on spectacle. This one came with history.