Coco Jones paid homage to Whitney Houston and black fashion history in a Karl Kani-designed ensemble when she performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at Super Bowl LX. It all takes place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, designed to combine traditional style with modern landscaping.
Before the lights and cameras on the NFL’s biggest stage captured Jones, another Super Bowl moment was already etched in cultural memory. In 1991, Whitney Houston sang the legendary national anthem at Super Bowl XXV in Tampa, Florida, as the New York Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills 20-19. Houston’s white tracksuit was as iconic as her voice that day, emblematic of quiet pride and athletic elegance in a moment when the world was watching.
The photo became the basis for Jones’ performance look more than thirty years later. Designed by fashion icon Karl Kani, the garment reimagines Houston’s original silhouette as a high fashion statement without losing its sporty essence.
Familiar tracksuits were transformed into mini bubble skirts with cropped jackets trimmed in red, black and green. The result blends classic streetwear and exceptional black style into one huge statement.
“It retains the sense of sportiness but elevates it into something elegant and dramatic,” Carney told Essence, describing the approach behind the look.
For Carney, the impact of the Super Bowl moment extends far beyond fashion.
Founded in 1989, the brand has defined modern streetwear with oversized silhouettes, bold logos and denim that resonate throughout hip-hop culture. His designs have been worn by Aaliyah, Tupac, The Notorious BIG and Jay-Z, especially in the 1990s. Carney later became the first black designer to receive a full-page ad in the New York Times, helping legitimize the genre and opening doors for future designers.
“I’m overwhelmed,” Carney said. “They could have gone to any designer in the world – Gucci, Fendi, Prada. But they came to Karl Kani. It’s special to pay homage to streetwear and this brand that means everything to me.”
Looking back on the journey, Carney points to perseverance as the decisive factor.
“It speaks to the resilience it takes for us to be here 35 years later with a brand that started on the streets of Brooklyn,” he said. He added that streetwear and hip-hop were once labeled trends destined to fade. “But we’re still here.”
The Super Bowl performance served as a visual reminder that black culture continues to shape the world’s biggest stage in its own way.
