List of national anthem performers at the Super Bowl

Jennifer Hudson sings the national anthem at Super Bowl XLIII.

The U.S. national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" has been performed at all but one Super Bowl since its first year in 1967; Vikki Carr sang "America the Beautiful" in place of the anthem at Super Bowl XI in 1977. Since Super Bowl XVI in 1982 (except 2005), famous singers or music groups have performed the anthem at the vast majority of Super Bowl games and was accompanied by an American Sign Language (ASL) performer since Super Bowl XXVI in 1992.

Beginning with Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, "America the Beautiful" is sung before the national anthem every year and is followed by the presentation of the colors and a military flyover preceded the anthem. Beginning in 2021, "Lift Every Voice And Sing" was sung prior to "America the Beautiful" and the national anthem in honor of Black History Month. Some early Super Bowls featured marching bands performing the anthem and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Performances

No. Yearly Venue Performer(s)[1]
I 1967 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, California The Pride of Arizona, Michigan Marching Band, and UCLA choir
II 1968 Orange Bowl, Miami GSU Tiger Marching Band
III 1969 Orange Bowl, Miami Lloyd Geisler of the Washington National Symphony Orchestra (trumpet)[2]
An NFL.com reference ([1]) states that Anita Bryant performed the anthem, but NBC's broadcast of game, available from the Paley Center for Media's collection, shows that Geisler performed it.
IV 1970 Tulane Stadium, New Orleans Doc Severinsen,[3] Pat O'Brien (actor who played Knute Rockne, performed in spoken word),[3] Southern University Band[4]
V 1971 Orange Bowl, Miami Tommy Loy (trumpet)
VI 1972 Tulane Stadium, New Orleans U.S. Air Force Academy Chorale
VII 1973 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Little Angels (children's choir) of Chicago's Holy Angels Church
VIII 1974 Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas Charley Pride
IX 1975 Tulane Stadium, New Orleans New Orleans Chapter of the Society for the Preservation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America--Chorus (2)
X 1976 Orange Bowl, Miami Tom Sullivan
XI 1977 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California None (Vikki Carr sang "America the Beautiful")
XII 1978 Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans Phyllis Kelly of Northeast Louisiana University (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe)
XIII 1979 Orange Bowl, Miami The Colgate Thirteen
XIV 1980 Rose Bowl, Pasadena Cheryl Ladd
XV 1981 Superdome, New Orleans Helen O'Connell
XVI 1982 Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan Diana Ross
XVII 1983 Rose Bowl, Pasadena Leslie Easterbrook
XVIII 1984 Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida Barry Manilow
XIX 1985 Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California San Francisco Boys Chorus, San Francisco Girls Chorus, Piedmont Children's Chorus, and San Francisco Children's Chorus
XX 1986 Superdome, New Orleans Wynton Marsalis (trumpet)
XXI 1987 Rose Bowl, Pasadena Neil Diamond
XXII 1988 Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego Herb Alpert (trumpet)
XXIII 1989 Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami Billy Joel
XXIV 1990 Superdome, New Orleans Aaron Neville
XXV 1991 Tampa Stadium, Tampa Whitney Houston with Florida Orchestra directed by Jahja Ling
XXVI 1992 Metrodome, Minneapolis Harry Connick Jr.
ASL (American Sign Language): Lori Hilary
XXVII 1993 Rose Bowl, Pasadena Garth Brooks
ASL: Marlee Matlin
XXVIII 1994 Georgia Dome, Atlanta Natalie Cole
ASL: Courtney Keel Foley
XXIX 1995 Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami Kathie Lee Gifford
ASL: Heather Whitestone
XXX 1996 Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona Vanessa Williams
ASL: Mary Kim Titla
XXXI 1997 Superdome, New Orleans Luther Vandross
ASL: Erika Rachael Schwarz
XXXII 1998 Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego Jewel
ASL: Phyllis Frelich
XXXIII 1999 Pro Player Stadium, Miami Cher
ASL: Speaking Hands
XXXIV 2000 Georgia Dome, Atlanta Faith Hill
ASL: Briarlake Elementary School Signing Choir
XXXV 2001 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Backstreet Boys
ASL: Tom Cooney
XXXVI 2002 Superdome, New Orleans Mariah Carey
ASL: Joe Narcisse
XXXVII 2003 Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego Dixie Chicks
ASL: Janet Maxwell
XXXVIII 2004 Reliant Stadium, Houston Beyoncé
ASL: Suzanna Christy
XXXIX 2005 Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida Combined choirs of the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy (2), and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets
ASL: Wesley Tallent
XL 2006 Ford Field, Detroit Aaron Neville (2) and Aretha Franklin
Dr. John (piano accompaniment)
ASL: Angela LaGuardia
XLI 2007 Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida Billy Joel (2)
ASL: Marlee Matlin (2)
XLII 2008 University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona Jordin Sparks
ASL: A Dreamer[5]
XLIII 2009 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Jennifer Hudson
ASL: Kristen Santos
XLIV 2010 Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens Carrie Underwood
ASL: Kinesha Battles
XLV 2011 Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas Christina Aguilera
ASL: Candice Villesca[6]
XLVI 2012 Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Kelly Clarkson
ASL: Rachel Mazique[7]
XLVII 2013 Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans Alicia Keys[8]
ASL: John Maucere[9]
XLVIII 2014 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey Renée Fleming
ASL: Amber Zion
XLIX 2015 University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona[10] Idina Menzel
ASL: Treshelle Edmond[11]
50 2016 Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California Lady Gaga
ASL: Marlee Matlin (3)[12]
LI 2017 NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas Luke Bryan
ASL: Kriston Lee Pumphrey[13]
LII 2018 U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota Pink
ASL: Alexandria Wailes[14]
LIII 2019 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia Gladys Knight
ASL: Aarron Loggins
LIV 2020 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens Demi Lovato
ASL: Christine Sun Kim
LV 2021 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan
ASL: Warren Snipe
LVI 2022 SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California Mickey Guyton
ASL: Sandra Mae Frank
LVII 2023 State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona Chris Stapleton
ASL: Troy Kotsur
LVIII 2024 Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada Reba McEntire
ASL: Daniel Durant
LIX 2025 Caesars Superdome, New Orleans Jon Batiste
ASL: Stephanie Nogueras

Multiple and hometown performances

Acts that have performed three times:

Acts that have performed two times:

Singers that performed in or near their hometown metropolitan area:

Notable performances

The performance by Whitney Houston at Super Bowl XXV in 1991, during the Gulf War, has been for many years regarded as one of the best renditions ever.[16][17][18][19][20][21] It was released as a single a few weeks later, appeared on the album Whitney: The Greatest Hits, and was re-released as a single in 2001 shortly after the September 11 attacks.

The 1992 performance marked the first time American Sign Language was used alongside the lead singer.

Faith Hill performed the anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000.[22] Following the September 11 attacks, her version entered the Hot Country Songs chart at number 35.[23]

Controversies

Since 1993, the NFL has required performers to supply a backup track.[16] This came after Garth Brooks walked out of the stadium prior to his XXVII performance. Only 45 minutes before kickoff, he refused to take the stage, due to a dispute with NBC. Brooks requested that the network premiere the music video for his new single "We Shall Be Free" during the pregame. The network chose not to air the video, due to content some felt was disturbing imagery. Brooks had also refused to pre-record the anthem, which meant the league had nothing to play if he left. Television producers spotted Jon Bon Jovi in the grandstands, and were prepared to use him as a replacement. After last-minute negotiations, NBC agreed to air a clip of the video during the broadcast of the game,[24] and Brooks was coaxed back into the stadium and sang.[21]

Following the "wardrobe malfunction" controversy during Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, all scheduled performers for Super Bowl XXXIX were chosen under heavy scrutiny.[25] Game organizers decided not to use a popular music vocalist.[26] The combined choirs of the U.S. Military Academy, the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets were invited to perform. This was the first time since the second inauguration of President Richard Nixon in 1973 that all four service academies sang together.[15][27]

Two days after Super Bowl XLIII, it was revealed that Jennifer Hudson also had lip synced.[16]

At the beginning of Super Bowl XLV, Christina Aguilera sang the lyrics incorrectly. Instead of singing "O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming", the pop star sang "What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming".[28][29] According to the New York Times, she also changed "gleaming" to "reaming".[30]

Other patriotic performances

The Sandy Hook Elementary School Chorus performs at Super Bowl XLVII.

The following Super Bowls featured other patriotic performances besides the national anthem. Since 2009, "America the Beautiful" is sung before the national anthem.[31]

Pledge of Allegiance
"America the Beautiful"
"God Bless America"
"Lift Every Voice and Sing'"

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Super Bowl – Entertainment". National Football League. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  2. ^ "NBC Broadcast of Super Bowl III". Paley Center for Media. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Super Bowl 2020: What the world looked like 50 years ago, when the Chiefs were in Super Bowl IV". January 31, 2020. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  4. ^ "Super Bowl IV". n/a. January 11, 1970. 180 minutes in. CBS Sports.
  5. ^ Wong, Scott (January 29, 2008). "Living the dream: Prof to sign anthem for deaf". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  6. ^ "Texan to Sign the National Anthem at the Super Bowl". National Association of the Deaf. February 6, 2011. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  7. ^ "Super Bowl XLVI: PepsiCo and the NAD". National Association of the Deaf. February 5, 2012. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  8. ^ King (January 19, 2013). "Alicia Keys to Perform National Anthem at Super Bowl XLVII". KING Says. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  9. ^ "NAD, NFL, & CBS Rally to Improve the Super Bowl Experience". National Association of the Deaf. February 3, 2013. Archived from the original on August 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "Super Bowl Tickets 2015". Ticketexchangebyticketmaster.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Idina Menzel to sing National Anthem at Super Bowl". National Football League. January 16, 2015. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  12. ^ "Lady Gaga will sing national anthem at Super Bowl 50". National Football League. Associated Press. February 2, 2016. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  13. ^ "Luke Bryan will sing national anthem at Super Bowl LI". National Football League. January 22, 2017. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  14. ^ "Pink will sing national anthem at Super Bowl LII". National Football League. January 8, 2018. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Byron, Master Sgt. David (February 1, 2005). "Super Bowl goes super blue". Air Force Print News. af.mil. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  16. ^ a b c "Hudson's Super Bowl Lip-Sync No Surprise to Insiders". ABC News. February 3, 2009. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  17. ^ "A fitting wartime rendition". St. Petersburg Times. February 4, 1991.
  18. ^ "Warner can't match '07 magic vs. Steelers". Chicago Tribune. February 2, 2009. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  19. ^ "Our National Anthem: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". Rolling Stone. July 3, 2007. Archived from the original on October 31, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  20. ^ Super Bowl XXV Highlight Film, NFL Films, 1991
  21. ^ a b "Oh, Say, Can She Sing". St. John's Downtown. January 31, 2004. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  22. ^ Dunkerley, Beville; Leahhey, Andrew; Parton, Chris; Moss, Marissa R.; Shelburne, Craig (September 21, 2015). "Faith Hill's 10 Greatest Live Performances". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  23. ^ "Hot Country Songs". Billboard. September 29, 2001. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  24. ^ "Discography". The Official Garth Brooks Official Website. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009.
  25. ^ Collins, Scott; James, Meg (February 4, 2005). "The Nation; After '04 Fiasco, Super Bowl Wants to Avoid Going Offsides". The Los Angeles Times (Home ed.). p. A01.
  26. ^ Sandomir, Richard (February 14, 2005). "Football? They Play a Game?". New York Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  27. ^ "Cadets to sing at Super Bowl XXXIX". Air Force Print News. af.mil. January 25, 2005. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  28. ^ Callow, James (February 7, 2011). "Super Bowl 2011: Christina Aguilera defends national anthem gaffe". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 17, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  29. ^ Schabner, Dean (February 6, 2011). "Christina Aguilera Mangles 'Star-Spangled Banner' at Super Bowl". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  30. ^ Harris, Elizabeth A. (February 6, 2011). "Singing, Aguilera Trips O'er Ramparts". New York Times. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  31. ^ "Super Bowl Entertainment". NFL.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  32. ^ Super Bowl III - Pledge Of Allegiance, February 2009, retrieved March 28, 2023
  33. ^ "NFL 1970 Super Bowl IV - Minnesota Vikings vs Kansas City Chiefs - video Dailymotion". Dailymotion. July 28, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  34. ^ "Lady Gaga to Sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl 50 on CBS". nflcommunications.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  35. ^ Weseling, Chris (January 30, 2013). "Sandy Hook, Newtown to be represented in Super Bowl". National Football League. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  36. ^ Hudson, Jennifer (January 31, 2013). "I'm blessed & honored to be singing "America The Beautiful" with Sandy Hook elementary school chorus at the Super Bowl Sunday". Twitter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  37. ^ "Armed Forces Chorus will sing "America the Beautiful" at Super Bowl 50 - Pro Player Insiders". Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  38. ^ Paulson, Michael (January 27, 2017). "'Hamilton' Is Coming to the Super Bowl". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  39. ^ NFL.com (January 15, 2018). "Leslie Odom Jr To Sing America The Beautiful At Super Bowl". NFL.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.[dead link‍]