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What is the best Super Bowl national anthem performance?

By YPB Team

Some of these renditions became hit records; others are remembered for a lyric slip, a sideline close-up or a pregame standoff. Pick the one that still gives you chills.

  1. Whitney Houston – Super Bowl XXV (1991) — ranked #11
    Whitney Houston – Super Bowl XXV (1991)
    Sung at Tampa Stadium ten days into the Gulf War air campaign, her recording was released as a single that reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 and No. 6 on its 2001 reissue.
    1000pts
  2. Gladys Knight – Super Bowl LIII (2019) — ranked #22
    Gladys Knight – Super Bowl LIII (2019)
    The Atlanta-born soul singer performed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in her hometown.
    606pts
  3. Luther Vandross – Super Bowl XXXI (1997) — ranked #33
    Luther Vandross – Super Bowl XXXI (1997)
    The R&B singer performed at the Louisiana Superdome before the Packers beat the Patriots.
    606pts
  4. Christina Aguilera – Super Bowl XLV (2011) — ranked #44
    Christina Aguilera – Super Bowl XLV (2011)
    At Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, she sang an altered line in place of "O'er the ramparts we watched," a lyric slip she apologized for after the game.
    590pts
  5. Kelly Clarkson – Super Bowl XLVI (2012) — ranked #55
    Kelly Clarkson – Super Bowl XLVI (2012)
    Joined by the Indianapolis Children's Choir, she sang at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis before the Giants beat the Patriots.
    548pts
  6. Demi Lovato – Super Bowl LIV (2020) — ranked #66
    Demi Lovato – Super Bowl LIV (2020)
    Performed at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens one week after her return to the stage at the 2020 Grammy Awards.
    548pts
  7. Billy Joel – Super Bowl XXIII (1989) — ranked #77
    Billy Joel – Super Bowl XXIII (1989)
    He sang at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami and returned to perform the anthem again at Super Bowl XLI in 2007.
    501pts
  8. Carrie Underwood – Super Bowl XLIV (2010) — ranked #88
    Carrie Underwood – Super Bowl XLIV (2010)
    The 2005 American Idol winner sang at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens before the Saints beat the Colts.
    448pts
  9. Pink – Super Bowl LII (2018) — ranked #99
    Pink – Super Bowl LII (2018)
    Pink sang at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis while ill with the flu, removing a throat lozenge just before she began.
    448pts
  10. Alicia Keys – Super Bowl XLVII (2013) — ranked #1010
    Alicia Keys – Super Bowl XLVII (2013)
    Accompanying herself on piano at the Louisiana Superdome, she sang a version timed at about 2 minutes 36 seconds, the longest Super Bowl anthem on record.
    388pts
  11. Chris Stapleton – Super Bowl LVII (2023) — ranked #1111
    Chris Stapleton – Super Bowl LVII (2023)
    A stripped-down version played on electric guitar at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during which Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was shown in tears.
    388pts
  12. Idina Menzel – Super Bowl XLIX (2015) — ranked #1212
    Idina Menzel – Super Bowl XLIX (2015)
    The Broadway and Frozen star sang at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, before the Patriots beat the Seahawks.
    320pts
  13. Jon Batiste – Super Bowl LIX (2025) — ranked #1313
    Jon Batiste – Super Bowl LIX (2025)
    The Louisiana-born musician played his own piano arrangement at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
    320pts
  14. Garth Brooks – Super Bowl XXVII (1993) — ranked #1414
    Garth Brooks – Super Bowl XXVII (1993)
    Sung at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena after a pregame standoff in which he walked out until NBC aired his "We Shall Be Free" video.
    320pts
  15. Renée Fleming – Super Bowl XLVIII (2014) — ranked #1515
    Renée Fleming – Super Bowl XLVIII (2014)
    The soprano became the first opera singer to sing the Super Bowl anthem, at MetLife Stadium with the Armed Forces Chorus.
    320pts
  16. Jennifer Hudson – Super Bowl XLIII (2009) — ranked #1616
    Jennifer Hudson – Super Bowl XLIII (2009)
    At Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, it was her first public performance after the killings of her mother, brother and nephew in October 2008.
    320pts
  17. Mariah Carey – Super Bowl XXXVI (2002) — ranked #1717
    Mariah Carey – Super Bowl XXXVI (2002)
    Performed with the Boston Pops under Keith Lockhart at the Louisiana Superdome, the first Super Bowl played after the September 11 attacks.
    320pts
  18. Faith Hill – Super Bowl XXXIV (2000) — ranked #1818
    Faith Hill – Super Bowl XXXIV (2000)
    The country singer performed at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta before the St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans.
    241pts
  19. Beyoncé – Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004) — ranked #1919
    Beyoncé – Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004)
    Beyoncé sang the anthem at Reliant Stadium in her hometown of Houston before the Patriots beat the Panthers.
    241pts
  20. Charlie Puth – Super Bowl LX (2026) — ranked #2020
    Charlie Puth – Super Bowl LX (2026)
    Backed by choirs, an orchestra and Kenny G on saxophone at Levi's Stadium, Puth described his arrangement as a tribute to Whitney Houston's 1991 version.
    241pts
  21. Lady Gaga – Super Bowl 50 (2016) — ranked #2121
    Lady Gaga – Super Bowl 50 (2016)
    Lady Gaga sang at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara a year before she headlined the Super Bowl LI halftime show.
    241pts
  22. Reba McEntire – Super Bowl LVIII (2024) — ranked #2222
    Reba McEntire – Super Bowl LVIII (2024)
    The country singer opened the first Super Bowl held in Las Vegas, at Allegiant Stadium.
    149pts

Photo credits

Comments 1

Eleven years apart, Super Bowl XXV and Super Bowl XXXVI handed the anthem first to Whitney Houston and then to Mariah Carey: https://youpick.best/articles/mariah-carey-vs-whitney-houston-ranked

YP
ypb-team
4h ago