Chili’s Baby Back Ribs jingle is back again, this time starring Lizzo.
The singer and songwriter performs her rendition of the classic tune in a video released Wednesday to promote Chili’s recently upgraded baby back ribs.
The video pays homage to the original 1996 TV commercial, which featured Chili’s employees breaking into song and using kitchen utensils as percussion.
But Lizzo adds her own spin, showing off her flautist skills on a rib flute (prompting an onlooker to ask, “Is that a rib flute?”) and adding a new verse. She also recorded an acapella version of the original.
Lizzo is known for hits such as “Truth Hurts” and “Good as Hell” and has won multiple Grammy and Emmy awards. She once followed a plant-based diet but has spoken more recently about reincorporating animal proteins into her diet. That apparently includes baby back ribs.
In a press release, Lizzo said that Chili’s was a big part of her childhood, and that she even dressed up as a fried mozzarella cheese pull for Halloween.
“When they reached out about collaborating, I couldn’t say yes fast enough,” she said in a statement. “I don’t think there’s a more memorable jingle, so when putting my own spin on it, I really wanted to honor that history while also making it feel fun and very me.”
The video, now live on YouTube, spotlights one of Chili’s signature menu items, which got a revamp last year. The new baby back rib recipe features larger ribs with a crispier exterior of caramelized barbecue sauce. They are part of a series of menu upgrades at the chain that have contributed to significant sales and traffic growth over the past two years.
The catchy baby back ribs jingle is an iconic part of Chili’s lore. The brand has produced several renditions over the years, most recently in 2023, with R&B group Boyz II Men.
