List of national anthem performers at the Super Bowl

The following is a list of performers who performed the U.S. national anthem at the Super Bowl.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" has been performed at every Super Bowl except for XI, when Vikki Carr sang "America the Beautiful" instead. In some recent years, the national anthem has been preceded by "America the Beautiful," and in very early years, the Pledge of Allegiance.

Whitney Houston's performance at Super Bowl XXV in 1991, during the Gulf War, is largely regarded as one of the best renditions of the U.S. national anthem in history.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The performance was released as a single on February 12, 1991, appeared on the album Whitney: The Greatest Hits, and was re-released as a single shortly after 9/11.

Faith Hill's XXXIV rendition proved popular in country radio. Following 9/11, her version entered the Country singles chart at number 35, despite not being released as an official single. It would re-enter the same chart at number 49 in July 2002, and enjoys recurrent airplay today.

Contents

Noteworthy

Five performers have rendered the national anthem at two Super Bowls:

Several performers performed the national anthem in their hometown area:

Lip syncing & controversies

Just days after Super Bowl XXV, a report surfaced that Whitney Houston lip synced her performance. It was confirmed that she was actually singing into a dead mic, but the performance heard in the stadium and on television was prerecorded.[1][2] The disclosure, however, did not tarnish the performance's critical praise.

Since 1993, the NFL has required performers to supply a backup track.[1] 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 his new music video "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,[8] and Brooks was coaxed back into the stadium and sang.[6]

Following the "Wardrobe Malfunction" controversy during Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, all scheduled performers for Super Bowl XXXIX were chosen under heavy scrutiny.[9] Game organizers decided not to use a popular music vocalist.[10] 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.[7][11]

Two days after Super Bowl XLIII, it was revealed that Jennifer Hudson also had lip synced.[1] The revelation garnered little criticism.

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".[12][13] According to the New York Times, she also changed "gleaming" to "reaming".[14]

Performer list

Super Bowl Year Venue Performer(s)
I 1967 L.A. Coliseum University of Arizona & University of Michigan Marching Bands
II 1968 Orange Bowl, Miami Grambling State University Marching Band
III 1969 Orange Bowl, Miami Anita Bryant
IV 1970 Tulane Stadium, New Orleans Al Hirt
V 1971 Orange Bowl, Miami Tommy Loy (Trumpeter)
VI 1972 Tulane Stadium, New Orleans U.S. Air Force Academy Chorale
VII 1973 L.A. Coliseum Little Angels (Children's Choir) of Chicago's Holy Angels Church
VIII 1974 Rice Stadium, Houston Charley Pride
IX 1975 Tulane Stadium, New Orleans Grambling State University Marching Band (2)
X 1976 Orange Bowl, Miami Tom Sullivan
XI 1977 Rose Bowl, Pasadena None (Vikki Carr sang “America the Beautiful”)
XII 1978 Superdome, New Orleans Phyllis Kelly of Northeast Louisiana State University
XIII 1979 Orange Bowl, Miami The Colgate Thirteen
XIV 1980 Rose Bowl, Pasadena Cheryl Ladd
XV 1981 Superdome, New Orleans Wyatt Metty
XVI 1982 Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan Diana Ross
XVII 1983 Rose Bowl, Pasadena Leslie Easterbrook
XVIII 1984 Tampa Stadium, Tampa Barry Manilow
XIX 1985 Stanford Stadium, Stanford San Francisco Boys Chorus and San Francisco Girls Chorus
XX 1986 Superdome, New Orleans Wynton Marsalis
XXI 1987 Rose Bowl, Pasadena Neil Diamond
XXII 1988 Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego Herb Alpert (trumpet, to date last instrumental performance at the Super Bowl)
XXIII 1989 Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami Billy Joel
XXIV 1990 Superdome, New Orleans Aaron Neville
XXV 1991 Tampa Stadium, Tampa Whitney Houston along with The Florida Orchestra directed by Jahja Ling
XXVI 1992 Metrodome, Minneapolis Harry Connick, Jr.
ASL performed by Lori Hilary
XXVII 1993 Rose Bowl, Pasadena Garth Brooks
ASL performed by Marlee Matlin
XXVIII 1994 Georgia Dome, Atlanta Natalie Cole
ASL performed by Atlanta Falcons cheerleader Courtney Keel Foley
XXIX 1995 Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami Kathie Lee Gifford
ASL performed by Miss America Heather Whitestone
XXX 1996 Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe Vanessa L. Williams
ASL performed by Mary Kim Titla
XXXI 1997 Superdome, New Orleans Luther Vandross
ASL performed by Erika Rachael Schwarz (Miss Louisiana 1996)[15]
XXXII 1998 Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego Jewel
ASL performed by Phyllis Frelich[16]
XXXIII 1999 Pro Player Stadium, Miami Cher
ASL performed by Speaking Hands[17]
XXXIV 2000 Georgia Dome, Atlanta Faith Hill
ASL performed by Briarlake Elementary School Singing Choir
XXXV 2001 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Backstreet Boys
ASL performed by Tom Cooney
XXXVI 2002 Superdome, New Orleans Mariah Carey
ASL performed by New Orleans Police Officer Joe Narcisse
XXXVII 2003 Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego Dixie Chicks
ASL performed by Janet Maxwell
XXXVIII 2004 Reliant Stadium, Houston Beyoncé Knowles
ASL performed by Suzanna Christy
XXXIX 2005 ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville 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 U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.
ASL performed by Wesley Tallent
XL 2006 Ford Field, Detroit Aaron Neville (2) and Aretha Franklin,
Piano accompaniment by Dr. John,
ASL performed by Angela LaGuardia
XLI 2007 Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens Billy Joel (2)
ASL performed by Marlee Matlin (2)
XLII 2008 University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale Jordin Sparks
ASL performed by A Dreamer (of Phoenix College)
XLIII 2009 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Jennifer Hudson
ASL performed by Kristen Santos
XLIV 2010 Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens Carrie Underwood
ASL performed by Kinesha Battles
XLV 2011 Cowboys Stadium, Arlington,TX Christina Aguilera
ASL performed by Candice Villesca

Others

Pledge of Allegiance

"America the Beautiful"

"God Bless America"

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Hudson's Super Bowl Lip-Sync No Surprise to Insiders". ABCNews.com. 2009-02-03. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WinterConcert/story?id=6788924&page=1. Retrieved 2009-02-04. 
  2. ^ a b "A fitting wartime rendition". St. Petersburg Times. 1991-02-04. 
  3. ^ "Warner can't match '07 magic vs. Steelers". ChicagoTribune.com. 2009-02-02. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-02-cardinals-bits-super-bowlfeb02,0,4188812.story. Retrieved 2009-02-04. 
  4. ^ "Our National Anthem: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". Rolling Stone. 2007-07-03. http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/07/03/our-national-anthem-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/. Retrieved 2009-02-04. 
  5. ^ Super Bowl XXV Highlight Film, NFL Films, 1991
  6. ^ a b "Oh, Say, Can She Sing". St. John's Downtown. 2004-01-31. http://www.stjohnsdowntown.org/newsite/CAN%20SHE%20SING.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-04. 
  7. ^ a b Byron, Master Sgt. David (February 1, 2005). "Super Bowl goes super blue". Air Force Print News (af.mil). http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?storyID=123009730. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  8. ^ Garth Brooks Official Site - Discography
  9. ^ Collins, Scott; James, Meg (February 4, 2005). "The Nation; After '04 Fiasco, Super Bowl Wants to Avoid Going Offsides". The Los Angeles Times: p. A01. 
  10. ^ Sandomir, Richard (2005-02-14). "Football? They Play a Game?". NYTimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/04/arts/television/04bowl.html?pagewanted=all&position=. Retrieved 2009-02-04. 
  11. ^ "Cadets to sing at Super Bowl XXXIX". Air Force Print News. af.mil. January 25, 2005. http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123009680. Retrieved 2010-01-04. 
  12. ^ James Callow (February 7, 2011). "Super Bowl 2011: Christina Aguilera defends national anthem gaffe". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/feb/07/super-bowl-2011-christina-aguilera. 
  13. ^ Dean Schabner (February 6, 2011). "Christina Aguilera Mangles 'Star-Spangled Banner' at Super Bowl". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/christina-aguilera-mangles-star-spangled-banner-super-bowl/story?id=12854244. 
  14. ^ Elizabeth A. Harris (February 6, 2011). "Singing, Aguilera Trips O’er Ramparts". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/sports/football/07aguilera-super-bowl-pregame.html. 
  15. ^ National Anthem on YouTube
  16. ^ National Anthem on YouTube
  17. ^ National Anthem by Cher on YouTube