For each Super Bowl, the NFL invites prominent musicians to perform songs honoring the country. Of the many performances that take place before kickoff, the singing of the national anthem attracts the most attention.
Many renditions of “The Star Spangled Banner” have been so powerful and memorable that years, even decades later, we still return to it. We’ve rounded up the best of the best in Super Bowl history. Here are the 10 best renditions of the national anthem:
10. Faith Hill (2000)
Faith Hill’s undeniable talent was on display as she performed the national anthem. It started calmly and she built her enthusiasm as she continued. The show includes drummers and bagpipes. She showed off her bagpipes with her own version of the last words. For the full representation, click here.
9. Dear (1999)
Cher has an extremely recognizable tone and this can be heard in her rendition of the national anthem. The pop singer was topping the charts at the time and brought undeniable star power to the Super Bowl stage. She put her stamp on the song, without modifying it too much. For the full representation, click here.
8. Lady Gaga (2016)
Lady Gaga is known for her crazy performances, but for this one she kept things simple and made her singing a moment rather than dramatic visuals. She added her own twist at the end, showing off her ability to hit the high notes.
7. Luther Vandross (1997)
It was classic Luther, with the soul you expect and the gentleness the moment needs.
6. Carrie Underwood (2010)
The country icon was selected to perform the national anthem five years after winning American Idol, which launched her impressive career. For the full representation, click here.
5. Kelly Clarkson (2012)
Clarkson had one of the shortest national anthems, proving that the performance doesn’t have to be long to make an impact. For the full representation, click here.
4. Jennifer Hudson (2009)
The American Idol finalist impressed many with her exceptional vocals ahead of Super Bowl XLIII. For the full representation, click here.
3. Beyoncé (2004)
Beyoncé has one of the most powerful voices in the music industry, and it showed during her performance of the national anthem. She was offered the halftime show, but chose to sing the anthem instead. Beyoncé performed the anthem in her hometown of Houston, Texas. For the full representation, click here.
2. Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville (2006)
Aretha is already an incredible and moving singer, and in the stadium in New Orleans, as a native of the area that endured Hurricane Katrina, the performance was all the more impactful. For the full representation, click here.
1. Whitney Houston (1991)
It’s hard to get everyone to agree on one thing, but most people agree that this is without a doubt the greatest rendition of the Super Bowl national anthem of all time. Houston’s voice and confidence were unmatched, and I doubt there will ever be a rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” on the NFL’s biggest stage that tops this one.
