H.E.R Shreds at Super Bowl LV

It only makes sense that my first post is about a woman who has not only shaped my entire view on guitar, but a woman who has defied gender barriers, is a masterful lyricist, and is currently paving the way for female musicians everywhere. It also helps that she just kicked ass at the pre-show of America’s most-watched sporting event of the year: the Super Bowl.

The aerial camera zooms in on Gabriella Wilson, aka H.E.R, 23-year old multi-instrumentalist, two-time Grammy-Award winning R&B artist from the Bay area at the start of the broadcast. I’ve been a close fan of H.E.R since the release of her self-titled album in 2017 and I had one question as the camera was approaching her: did she have her guitar or not? Once it became clear she did, I texted my friends and family to prepare themselves for the epic shredding that was about to ensue.

And that’s exactly what followed. H.E.R started out her rendition of “America the Beautiful” with the soulful, gentle R&B touch she exhibits in all of her music. In an interview with ET, she said, “But I think the goal, for me, is to make [the song] my own. I’m a huge fan of the different versions of ‘America the Beautiful,’ but I really want to bring some different elements in there… make it H.E.R.” It didn’t take long, however, for that head-bopping, contemporary R&B vibe to transition into a legendary rock-and-roll guitar solo, another thing she’s known for doing.

H.E.R’s unique take on “America the Beautiful” was skillfully crafted and masterfully performed; a much-needed high-energy vibe before the biggest NFL game of the year. While she nailed her on-field performance last night, off the field H.E.R continues to make strides as she is currently nominated for 3 Grammy’s. I can’t wait to see her walk across stage to accept all three.

Watch her Super Bowl performance below: