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.

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. Here’s a look at their love story.

How Batiste Met, Fell in Love, and Married His Wife amid Her Second Diagnosis
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Batiste’s 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 commented, “I didn’t know that! How cute!!”

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.<img< a=””></img<>

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The “We Are” artist and his wife tied the knot in their new home after eight years together. The couple’s 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.”