Before the whistle blows and the opening kickoff arcs over the field, the Super Bowl starts with a moment that cuts to the core of what it means to be an American: The national anthem. This time-honored tradition can be a defining moment when done right, where pop culture superstardom crosses over with sports, Americana and patriotism.
Over the years “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been performed by a wide array of artists at the Super Bowl, from country music icons to pop superstars. Some have delivered memorable renditions in good ways, while others have (unfortunately) delivered some less-than-stellar performances.
In this post, we’re taking a look at every national anthem performance in Super Bowl history.
The History of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl
According to a report from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the anthem was played at a baseball game to open the Union Grounds Ballpark in Brooklyn. Of course, at that time “The Star-Spangled Banner” wasn’t the national anthem.
The U.S. Congress didn’t pass H.R. 14 until 1931, which officially adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem.
But by then, it was already a huge part of baseball in America. The song was sung during the seventh-inning stretch of the 1918 World Series (with the backdrop of World War I), which drastically boosted its popularity.
After World War II, the anthem has been performed at the start of NFL games. Elmer Layden, who served as NFL cCommissioner from 1941–46, ordered the anthem be performed before kickoff. By this point it was already tradition in baseball.
Fast forward 20 years or so and the UCLA choir, Pride of Arizona and Michigan Marching Band performed the national anthem at Super Bowl I.
Complete List of National Anthem Singers by Year
Most Memorable National Anthem Performances
There are a handful of performers who clearly were head-and-shoulders above their contemporaries. Many of these performers earned rave reviews at the time, but their efforts still hold up today.
A history-making performance came in 2005 at Super Bowl XXXIX. After Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction during the halftime show in 2004, the NFL was extra careful when selecting performers for the next season. So the league opted for the choirs of the U.S. Military Academy, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy and Coast Guard Academy. It was the first time all four service academy choirs performed together since the second inauguration of Richard Nixon in 1973.
Faith Hill (2000), Beyoncé (2004), Carrie Underwood (2010) and Demi Lovato (2020) are all considered to have given some of the greatest performances ever. But, not quite the best.
It’s hard to get people to agree on just about anything nowadays, but seemingly everyone has reached the conclusion that Witney Houston’s masterful rendition in 1991 is the greatest anthem performance ever. It even made the Billboard Hot 100.
For what it’s worth, Hill’s rendition was rereleased after 9/11 in New York and also made the Billboard country chart.
Controversies and Criticisms of Super Bowl National Anthem Performances
Sometimes, headlines are made for all the wrong reasons. Christina Aguilera unfortunately botched the lyrics in 2011 and was forced to issue an apology afterward.
Jennifer Hudson sang the anthem at Super Bowl XLIII, with many loving her performance. But two days later it was revealed she lip-synced.
A bad performance is one thing, but a full on meltdown is another. In 1993, Garth Brooks was nearing the height of his popularity and was booked to sing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXVII.
But with less than an hour to go before kick off, Brooks was refusing to take the stage. Brooks wanted NBC to premiere his new music video before the game began, but NBC wasn’t interested in doing so.
So Brooks just walked out of the stadium. He hadn’t pre-recorded anything, so the network was left scrambling. Producers spotted Jon Bon Jovi in the stands and were moving forward with a plan for him to perform when an agreement was reached with Brooks.
Ever since, the NFL requires the artists to record a backup track. Just in case.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as List of National Anthem Singers at the Super Bowl.