Carrie Underwood Is Returning to Sunday Night Football and Fans Have Plenty to Say

Carrie Underwood is returning to one of the most familiar roles of her career outside country music. The Grammy-winning singer will once again provide the opening performance for NBC’s Sunday Night Football, extending an association with the NFL broadcast that began more than a decade ago.

NBC announced that Underwood will be back for her 14th consecutive season, with the latest version of “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” set to debut September 13 ahead of the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants matchup. The announcement quickly generated reactions online, with longtime fans celebrating her return while some viewers suggested another country singer could eventually take over.

Carrie Underwood Returns for Her 14th Season

Underwood first became the voice of the Sunday Night Football opener in 2013, succeeding fellow country superstar Faith Hill.

Since then, her performance has become closely associated with NBC’s weekly NFL coverage. Each season has brought changes to the production, but Underwood has remained its central performer.

Her longevity means that an entire generation of younger football viewers has grown up hearing her voice at the beginning of NBC’s Sunday night games.

The 2026 season extends that run to 14 consecutive years.

The New Opening Will Have a Rock Inspired Feel

NBC isn’t simply recycling an older version of the introduction for the new season.

The network said the latest production will feature Underwood performing across several settings, including a recording studio, an intimate music venue and a packed stadium.

The concept is intended to give the familiar anthem a refreshed, more rock-oriented atmosphere while retaining the energy viewers expect before kickoff.

Underwood described the production concept as a “rock star fever dream,” suggesting viewers can expect another elaborate opening rather than a straightforward studio performance.

The updated sequence will make its television debut when the Cowboys meet the Giants on September 13.

Many Fans Celebrated the Announcement

The news produced enthusiastic responses from some fans on social media.

Several commenters said Underwood’s performance had become one of their favorite parts of Sunday Night Football. Others used the announcement as another opportunity to argue that she should eventually headline a Super Bowl halftime show.

One Instagram commenter wrote, “One of my Favorite parts of SNF!!!”

Another called for Underwood to receive a future Super Bowl halftime performance.

Those reactions demonstrate the strong connection some viewers have developed with Underwood’s NFL role, although individual social-media comments should not necessarily be interpreted as representing the entire football audience.

Some Viewers Suggested Ella Langley Instead

Not every reaction centered on keeping Underwood in the position indefinitely.

Several commenters suggested rising country star Ella Langley as a potential future performer for the opening. Langley has built a growing profile within country music, prompting some fans to campaign for her to receive a chance at the NFL spotlight.

“Time to pass it on. Let Ella sing it,” one commenter wrote.

Another suggested having Langley perform a Sunday Night Football anthem of her own.

There has been no announcement from NBC suggesting Underwood is preparing to leave or that Langley is being considered as her replacement. The comments simply illustrate the debate that often accompanies a performer who has held such a visible position for many years.

Underwood Followed Faith Hill in the Famous Role

Underwood’s lengthy run is part of a tradition stretching back years.

Faith Hill performed “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” from 2007 through the 2012 season before announcing her departure. Underwood took over beginning with the 2013 season.

The anthem itself is based musically on Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” transformed with football-themed lyrics for NBC’s primetime broadcast.

Underwood has performed different arrangements during her tenure, and NBC has repeatedly redesigned the accompanying visuals to keep the opening current.

That combination of continuity and reinvention has helped make her one of the most recognizable musical figures associated with televised NFL coverage.

Her NFL Connection Goes Beyond the Opening Song

Underwood has repeatedly spoken about her enthusiasm for football, making the partnership a particularly natural extension of her music career.

The American Idol winner has also developed one of country music’s most successful careers since winning the competition in 2005. Her catalog includes major hits such as “Before He Cheats,” “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Blown Away.”

She has won multiple Grammy Awards and built a career spanning albums, touring, television and major live performances.

Still, for millions of football viewers, the familiar question of whether they have been “waiting all day for Sunday night” has become another defining piece of Underwood’s public identity.

A Familiar Voice Will Kick Off Another Season

After more than a decade, changing the Sunday Night Football singer would inevitably generate discussion. Some fans are ready to hear another performer, while others clearly aren’t interested in changing a tradition they have come to expect.

For now, however, NBC has made its choice.

Carrie Underwood will be back for season 14, bringing another redesigned version of the famous opening to television in September. Whether viewers tune in primarily for football or find themselves singing along before kickoff, one of NBC’s longest-running NFL traditions is officially continuing for another year.

Featured Image: instagram.com/carrieunderwood