List of national anthem performers at the Super Bowl
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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 1985 and 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.[1]
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. Celine Dion sang "God Bless America" in place of "America the Beautiful" at Super Bowl XXXVII.
Performances
1967–1991
1992–present
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.[18][19][20][21][22][23] 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.[24] Following the September 11 attacks, her version entered the Hot Country Songs chart at number 35.[25]
Controversies
Since 1993, the NFL has required performers to supply a backup track during the national anthem, America the Beautiful, and Lift Every Voice and Sing to ensure audio quality and prevent performance glitches due to factors like weather, loud crowds, or technical issues.[18] 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,[26] and Brooks was coaxed back into the stadium and sang.[23]
Following the "wardrobe malfunction" controversy during Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, all scheduled performers for Super Bowl XXXIX were chosen under heavy scrutiny.[27] Game organizers decided not to use a popular music vocalist.[28] 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.[29][30]
Two days after Super Bowl XLIII, it was revealed that Jennifer Hudson also had lip synced.[18]
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".[31][32] According to the New York Times, she also changed "gleaming" to "reaming".[33]
Military flyovers
In recent years, the national anthem has been followed by a flyover of the stadium by a group of military aircraft. The first time this happened was Super Bowl VI with a group of F-4 Phantoms from the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Elgin Air Force Base for fallen military members during the Vietnam War. The practice wouldn't become a regular tradition until Super Bowl XIX and of course would be missed over several of the next games because they were held indoors. Both the USAF Thunderbirds (six) and the Navy Blue Angels (three) have been regular performers of the flyovers.
The Super Bowl XLV flyover by Navy F/A-18 Hornets from Naval Air Station Oceana was criticized as too expensive due to the existence of a naval air station in Fort Worth, Texas.[34] And the flyovers have been criticized in general as promoting militarism and war.[35][36]
The flyovers have also been praised for promoting history during Super Bowl LII where a World War II era P-51 Mustang flew with modern USAF jets.[37] And at Super Bowl LVII, the Navy flyover consisted of all female pilots, honoring the 50th anniversary of the first female navy pilot.[38]
Other patriotic performances
The following Super Bowls featured other patriotic performances besides the national anthem. Since 2009, "America the Beautiful" is sung before the national anthem.[39]
America the Beautiful
| No. | Year | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| VIII | 1974 | Charley Pride |
| XI | 1977 | Vikki Carr (in place of the national anthem) |
| XXXV | 2001 | Ray Charles |
| XXXVI | 2002 | Mary J. Blige, Marc Anthony and the Boston Pops Orchestra |
| XXXIX | 2005 | Alicia Keys and a tribute to Ray Charles |
| XLIII | 2009 | Faith Hill |
| XLIV | 2010 | Queen Latifah |
| XLV | 2011 | Lea Michele with Tops In Blue |
| XLVI | 2012 | Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert |
| XLVII | 2013 | Jennifer Hudson with the Sandy Hook Elementary School Chorus[40][41] |
| XLVIII | 2014 | Queen Latifah with the New Jersey Youth Chorus |
| XLIX | 2015 | John Legend[14] |
| 50 | 2016 | U.S. Armed Forces Chorus[42] |
| LI | 2017 | Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jasmine Cephas Jones.[43] |
| LII | 2018 | Leslie Odom Jr.[44] |
| LIII | 2019 | Chloe x Halle |
| LIV | 2020 | Yolanda Adams |
| LV | 2021 | H.E.R. |
| LVI | 2022 | Jhené Aiko |
| LVII | 2023 | Babyface, Colin Denny (PISL) |
| LVIII | 2024 | Post Malone, Anjel Piñero (ASL) |
| LIX | 2025 | Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle |
| LX | 2026 | Brandi Carlile, Julian Ortiz (ASL) |
Lift Every Voice and Sing
| No. | Year | Performer | ASL |
|---|---|---|---|
| LV | 2021 | Alicia Keys | — |
| LVI | 2022 | Mary Mary with Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles | — |
| LVII | 2023 | Sheryl Lee Ralph | Justina Miles |
| LVIII | 2024 | Andra Day | Shaheem Sanchez |
| LIX | 2025 | Ledisi with Greater New Orleans High School Choral Collective | Otis Jones IV |
| LX | 2026 | Coco Jones | Fred Beam |
Pledge of Allegiance
God Bless America
| No. | Year | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| XXXVII | 2003 | Céline Dion |
Multiple and hometown performances
Acts that have performed three times:
- Marlee Matlin (ASL), (XXVII, XLI, and 50)
- Alicia Keys, (XXXIX, XLVII, and LV)
Acts that have performed two times:
- GSU Tiger Marching Band (II and IX)
- Billy Joel (XXIII and XLI)
- Aaron Neville (XXIV and XL)
- U.S. Air Force Academy Chorale[29] (VI and XXXIX)
- Queen Latifah (XLIV and XLVIII)
- Faith Hill (XXXIV and XLIII)
- Jennifer Hudson (XLIII and XLVII)
Acts that performed in or near their hometown metropolitan area:
- Herb Alpert (XXII, San Diego)
- Beyoncé (XXXVIII, Houston)
- Aretha Franklin (XL, Detroit)
- Al Hirt (IV, New Orleans)
- Jewel (XXXII, San Diego)
- Aaron Neville (XXIV, New Orleans)
- Diana Ross (XVI, Detroit)
- Backstreet Boys (XXXV, Tampa)
- Jordin Sparks (XLII, Phoenix)
- Queen Latifah (XLVIII, East Rutherford, New Jersey)
- Gladys Knight (LIII, Atlanta)
- Troy Kotsur (LVII, Phoenix)
- Ledisi (LIX, New Orleans)
- Trombone Shorty (LIX, New Orleans)
- Lauren Daigle (LIX, New Orleans)
- Jon Batiste (LIX, New Orleans)
See also
Notes
- An NFL.com reference ([2]) 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.
- The National Anthem was performed by the combined choirs of the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy (including members of The Idlers) accompanied by the United States Army Herald Trumpets.[6][7]