Los angeles, Jan 28 (.) Lady Gaga has recorded her version of the theme song from the beloved children’s show Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood for an upcoming Super Bowl commercial. But rather than a kitschy novelty, Gaga’s tender, ballad-like rendition turns “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” into something more akin to a forgotten gem of the Great American Songbook, Variety reports.
The question arises: in 2026, could this gentle anthem of kindness also be seen as a protest song? Gaga hints at that interpretation in a nearly four-minute “making-of” teaser released by the campaign’s sponsors, Rocket Mortgage and Redfin.
“Mr. Rogers was so clearly someone that stood for something, and it’s powerful to think of what he would say right now,” Gaga says. She calls the song “kind of a special song to revisit at this time,” underscoring its enduring relevance in today’s American climate. The recording itself lasts about a minute, beginning at 1:52 in the teaser.
According to Variety, footage shows Gaga and longtime collaborator Benjamin Rice working out the arrangement at Shangri-La Studio in Malibu. “I need to figure out if I’m gonna take it up or sing it like the original,” she tells Rice, ultimately choosing a more elevated, dramatic approach. “I need to figure out a way to get to that big moment,” she adds, which she achieves seamlessly.
Rice, a veteran producer, praises Fred Rogers’ deceptively sophisticated songwriting. “It’s a simple melody with really complex chords. That combination is hard to nail, and it does, it’s a perfect song in that way,” he says.
Gaga reflects on her childhood memories of the show and the comfort it provided to children who might have felt alone. “It was interesting to create something really heartfelt that keeps the purity and beauty of the original version, but does it in a new way,” she notes.
Rocket Mortgage, a two-time Ad Meter winner in 2021 and 2022, has a history of high-profile Super Bowl commercials, including last year’s spot featuring families and troops set to a new version of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” as quoted by Variety.
While a full Mr. Rogers catalog revival by Gaga seems unlikely, there are several other songs from the iconic host that could resonate today: “Sometimes People Are Good,” “What Do You Do With the Mad That You Feel,” “Be Brave, Be Strong,” and “You Can Never Go Down the Drain,” among others, each offering lessons in kindness, hope, and resilience.
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