'I Genuinely Teared Up': Lady Gaga's 'Hold My Hand' Performance at the Super Bowl Ignites Reactions — Video

Singer and actress Lady Gaga delivered a heartfelt Super Bowl performance that moved some social media users with her stage presence, while others were unconvinced.

Lady Gaga captivated audiences with her Super Bowl LIX appearance on February 9, 2025. Performing from Bourbon Street in New Orleans, her rendition quickly became a major talking point.

Michael Strahan and Tom Brady introduced Lady Gaga's performance while standing among emergency responders and attendees. Strahan wore a "NOLA Strong" T-shirt, while Brady sported an L.A. Fire Department shirt.

"This year began with a terror attack that tried to shatter its spirit. But the resilience of New Orleans is matched by the resolve of our country," Strahan, 53, said. Meanwhile, Brady, 47, added, "When tragedy strikes, we don't break, we come together. We rise above and never let evil win."

As their words resonated with the crowd, the camera panned to the stage, where the 38-year-old singer appeared onstage at a piano. Dressed in an elegant all-white outfit, Lady Gaga wore a large, oversized hat that added a dramatic touch to her ensemble.

Her attire included a tailored suit with intricate details, perfectly complementing the somber yet hopeful tone of the tribute.

She delivered a stirring rendition of "Hold My Hand," her 2022 power ballad from the film "Top Gun: Maverick." A large, attentive crowd fills the street, with military personnel, law enforcement, and civilians standing in the foreground. The stage was lit in purple.

Neon signs from surrounding bars and venues glow in the background, adding vibrancy to the scene. The atmosphere is somber yet unified, reflecting the tribute's emotional tone.

The "Poker Face" hitmaker's performance sparked a wave of reactions online. A netizen criticized, "Couldn't understand a word she said," while another remarked, "Little off a few times with the lip syncing [sic]."

However, many users praised her emotional delivery. "I genuinely teared up. She has such a beautiful voice," a supporter shared. Another commented, "A true talent and class act. One of the greatest and most genuine artists/celebrities on the planet. The world needs more people like her."

More netizens reacted to Lady Gaga's performance. A user found Lady Gaga's performance deeply "touching." Another praised her work, "Everything she touches is pure gold 💛💜💛."

A commenter shared that they were emotionally overwhelmed, describing the rawness of the performance and noting the audience's full attention.

Lady Gaga's Super Bowl LIX performance, along with messages of resilience from Strahan and Brady, served as a tribute to victims of separate tragedies that struck the U.S. in January 2025.

Among them were the devastating wildfires in Southern California. These reportedly began on January 7, when strong winds fueled the flames, forcing over 30,000 Los Angeles residents, including Hollywood personalities like Dick Van Dyke and Chrissy Teigen, to evacuate as the crisis escalated.

Earlier in the month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) publicly reported a violent attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. According to officials, a man had driven a pickup truck into a crowd, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.

After crashing the vehicle, he exited and opened fire on law enforcement. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect. Two officers were also wounded and taken to a hospital.

The FBI later identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas. He had been driving a rented Ford pickup truck, and inside, investigators discovered an ISIS flag, weapons, and a suspected improvised explosive device (IED).

Further searches uncovered additional potential explosive devices in the French Quarter. FBI bomb technicians worked alongside local law enforcement to assess and neutralize any threats.

Classified as an act of terrorism, the attack prompted a full-scale FBI investigation into Jabbar's background, affiliations, and any possible accomplices. Officials continue to pursue leads to determine whether he acted alone or had connections to extremist groups.

In light of these tragedies, Lady Gaga's Super Bowl tribute took on a deeper meaning for many.

While some praised her song choice, others playfully argued that she should have performed her recently released track, "Abracadabra," instead.

One user wrote, "SHOULDVE BEEN ABRACADABRA [sic]," while another joked, "WHEN ABRACA-LEGENDARY-DABRA WAS RIGHT THERE?! [sic]."

Amid these comments, the Grammy singer shared on TikTok a video of herself singing her new song. "Goin into the SUPERBOWL like ABRA-OO-NA-NA. The category is: SPORTS or SPELLS!! 🧙‍♀️" she captioned her post.

She dances energetically to her new song with her signature flair. She wears an all-black ensemble, including a button-up high-neck dress, gloves, and oversized sunglasses, adding a touch of drama to her look.

The video shows her confidently striding and striking bold poses in a hallway with patterned carpeting, her playful and expressive movements embodying the song's theatrical vibe.

Despite netizens' mixed reactions, Lady Gaga's performance stood out as a significant moment, drawing widespread attention from viewers.