Jon Batiste has something special planned for fans for the upcoming Super Bowl opening ceremony. As he works to compose an unforgettable performance, the musician remains devoted to his wife, who is facing her third cancer diagnosis.
Advertisement
On February 9, 2025, Jon Batiste will sing the national anthem at Super Bowl LIX. While continuing to make his mark in the music industry, he is also standing by his wife, Suleika Jaouad, as she battles cancer for the third time. Heres a look at their love story.
AdvertisementHow Batiste Met, Fell in Love, and Married His Wife amid Her Second Diagnosis
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Batistes wife shared on Instagram how they met. In a post accompanied by photos of the couple, Jaouad revealed that she first met Batiste when she was 13 and he was a year older. They met at a place she finds embarrassing—band camp.
Over the years, she has learned more about the creative process from him than from any degree or craft book. Reacting to the post, one fan , “I didnt know that! How cute!!”
Advertisement
Batiste fell in love with music at an early age, starting to play the drums at eight. By 12, he had moved on to the piano, an instrument he quickly mastered. He has since become a renowned vocalist, composer, actor, arranger, and “harmonabord” player.
Advertisement
In 2011, Jaouad was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, and doctors gave her only a 35 percent chance of survival. However, she defied the odds. After falling in love with Batiste, the couple married in February 2022—shortly after the then 33-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia for the second time.
Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2023, in Telluride, Colorado | Source: Getty Images
The “We Are” artist and his wife tied the knot in their new home after eight years together. The couples intimate wedding, attended only by close family, symbolized a fresh start. Batiste described their home as a sanctuary, a space that reflects both of them and serves as a place to recharge.
It took them three years to renovate, carefully selecting and building furniture, and adding details to make it perfect. Their marriage was a last-minute decision, making it even more intimate. The singer explained, “It was one of those things that we did the day before her bone marrow transplant, it was a very deep time in our lives, obviously for so many reasons.”
Advertisement
The couple decided to go ahead with their wedding after realizing they had a small window before her transplant. Jaouad, the author of the bestselling cancer memoir “Between Two Kingdoms,” revealed that her diagnosis wasnt what prompted Batistes proposal. The Grammy-winning musician had spent a year designing her engagement ring.
Advertisement
He emphasized that her illness had no impact on his proposal and that her diagnosis didnt change his feelings. Instead, it strengthened his resolve to commit to their future together.
Advertisement
Laughing, Jaouad recalled, “We have known that we wanted to get married, I think, from the first week that we started dating. Thats when Jon first brought up the topic of marriage to me. So, weve had eight years. This is not, you know, a hasty decision!”
Advertisement
A few months later, Batiste shared an update on his wifes condition, saying she was “doing better.” He added, “Every single day we are praying and continuing the — I mean, she is incredible,” noting that if you saw her, you wouldnt know what she was going through.
Suleika Jaouad getting cancer treatment with the support of loved ones in a post dated December 30, 2024 | Source: Instagram/suleikajaouad
The musician further explained her resilience, “She has this ability to take the toughest challenges and make them life-affirming. So, with her its a special case. How shes doing, its a Suleika thing.”
Suleika Jaouad getting cancer treatment in a post dated December 30, 2024 | Source: Instagram/suleikajaouad
Advertisement
Sadly, in October 2023, when asked about her odds of survival following her second diagnosis, she responded, “Less than that,” referencing the previous stats for her first diagnosis. However, she remained hopeful, noting that her prognosis could improve if science advances or if a new suitable donor emerges. But then, something even worse happened.
AdvertisementJaouads Third Cancer Diagnosis
In 2023, fans got a closer look at Jaouads cancer journey in the Netflix documentary “American Symphony.” Her cancer returned at the same time her husband debuted an original symphony bearing the same name as their documentary.
One scene showed the couple playing Simon Says while walking through a hospital hallway during Jaouads chemotherapy treatment. In a voiceover, Batiste said, “I feel a strong, strong, strong desire to take the pain away. But I cant.” He continued, “This is a moment, a test, and its nobodys fault, and nobody can control it.”
Advertisement
While the couple remained hopeful, in late 2024, Jaouad took to Instagram to share heartbreaking news, posting several photos and videos. She explained that reviewing her entire camera roll from start to finish is one of her end-of-year traditions.
In the post, she also revealed that when she did it the previous day, she was overwhelmed with gratitude and broke down in tears. She revealed the resurgence of her cancer.
Advertisement
The author and producer reflected, “When you learn for the third time you have cancer, its easy to feel hopeless. But my photos showed me that even in the hardest moments, there were so many joys. That life is not a monolith. That our forever work is to learn to hold the brutal and beautiful in the same palm.”
Advertisement
After sharing new images and footage, netizens praised her, with one person writing, “Wow, you are stunningly beautiful, inside and out.” Another added, “You are light personified 💛.” A third fan described her as a “stunning and beautiful human! ❤️”
Advertisement
Although the couple remains focused on Jaouads health, they are also celebrating Batistes selection for Super Bowl LIX and his other recent achievements.
AdvertisementBatistes Super Bowl Performance
In January 2025, Batiste confirmed that he would perform at Super Bowl LIX in his hometown of New Orleans. The event will air on Fox, and he is determined to create a musical arrangement that will stand the test of time.
Read also
Super Bowl Viewers React to This Singer Performing the National Anthem at the 2025 Game – All Stars Who Will Take the Stage
February 06, 2025
CelebrityTaylor Swifts Toned Leg Muscles in Red Mini Dress at the Grammys Spark Fan Discussion – Photos
February 06, 2025
CelebrityThis Super Bowl 2025 Performer Sparks Buzz with Her Look After Regretting Her BBL – See How She Looks Now
February 06, 2025
He revealed that he planned to finalize his arrangement a week before the performance. However, this isnt his only recent milestone—he also launched the Jon Batiste Jazz Club at the Baha Mar Resort in the Bahamas.
Advertisement
The celebrations continued when Jaouad shared a joyful snapshot of herself with her husband on February 3. She expressed gratitude, saying life was good and that they were honored to win a Grammy for Best Music Film for “American Symphony.”
They also won the award for Best Song Written for Visual Media for the same documentary. She wrote, “We couldnt make it to the ceremony but were beaming love from our couch to yours, and sending gratitude to all who made this film possible.”
Advertisement
Fans flooded the comment section with praise and congratulations. One person wrote, “The best love story Ive ever seen ❤️.” Another added, “Yall deserve all the awards … and health ❤️❤️.”
Seeing a different picture of the couple, a third person remarked, “You look radiant. Best. Couple. Ever. ❤️” Meanwhile, after watching a short video of Batiste discussing his Super Bowl performance, one fan exclaimed, “Wow nice!!! Look forward to your performance!!!”
Another excitedly stated, “CANT WAIT to hear it!! Youll do us all proud JB!! Shouldve had you for [the] halftime show!” Someone else noted, “Oh I wasnt going to watch it. But perhaps I should tune in to hear and see you sing!”
Heres hoping that Jaouad goes into remission and her diagnosis never returns.
Advertisement
