Brandy blew the house — or rather, the SoFi stadium in Inglewood, California — down on Sunday as she performed the national anthem before the Los Angeles Rams took on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. But the main focus has been placed on her performance outfit.
brandy singing the national anthem OMG please and thank you pic.twitter.com/TjaVXunv9r
— dinah (dee-nuh) (@ratherbebrandy) January 30, 2022
The singer, who's been affectionately called "The Vocal Bible," opened the big game while wearing a red, white and black Prada tracksuit that bore a striking resemblance to Whitney Houston's outfit from her 1991 Super Bowl performance.
Houston's glowing rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is remembered not only for her effortless vocal delivery, but also for the sporty Prada windbreaker set she wore that day. It was an outfit that, according to her longtime musical director Rickey Minor, wasn't meant to steal the show.
“Whitney’s thing was, she was there to cheer on the New York Giants,” Minor told Today in Feb. 2021. “She was there for that and after she performed, she wanted to be comfortable to go and sit in her box and relax and watch the game. So it’s like not putting on the makeup and the gowns and stuff… it was really, I’m at a football game. I’m not at the Met.”
Fans were quick to draw comparison between the two outfits, pointing out Brandy's homage to the late singer.
Im never getting over this. pic.twitter.com/SBL0snAFXm
— Gerrick Kennedy (@GerrickKennedy) January 31, 2022
Brandy sang the national anthem today in a white Prada track suit. It reminded me of the one Whitney Houston wore for her unforgettable 1991 rendition. pic.twitter.com/9UClGGpJMq
— Brooklyn White-Grier (@brooklynrwhite) January 31, 2022
Some chose to draw attention to the two famous artists' vocal mentorship. Houston worked closely with Brandy on the reenvisioned 1997 version of Disney's Cinderella, in which the "Run to You" singer starred as the legendary fairy godmother to Brandy's character.
Man… Brandy came ready to sing the national anthem. Whitney Houston would be so proud. pic.twitter.com/H7pSMSOiPO
— Jermaine (@JermaineWatkins) January 31, 2022
The singer channeled the spirit of Houston right down to the accessories. Brandy wore a small cross earring in her right ear to match the Houston's earrings.
My girl always gonna show homage!!! Brandy SANG that national anthem. We loved it Bran ????❤️ @4everBrandy
pic.twitter.com/vop5tUWyaw— b rocka’s son (@jamesleftyy) January 31, 2022
Brandy hasn't shied away from showing her affection and admiration for Houston, who died in 2012. When Disney+ announced that Cinderella would be added to the streaming service, Brandy opened up about working with the star, saying that their relationship completely changed her life.
"She has changed my life forever and she's gonna change so many others that never really got to see her in her prime," Brandy told
Entertainment Tonight at the time. "I'm so glad that they're gonna see her in this light. This is the light that she should always shine in."
