How Carrie Underwood Booked Super Bowl XLIV
Carrie Underwood is singing the national anthem at Super Bowl XLIV next Sunday (Feb. 7) and I know what you're thinking: It is about time. I mean, c'mon. What took them so long? I asked the NFL that very question. I didn't phrase it quite that way, but still. They told me that singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl is one of the most coveted spots in the music industry. "It provides the 70,000-plus crowd and the hundreds of millions of people (151 million folks watched it last year) around the world watching on TV with a goose-bump moment," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told me.
And who decides it's Underwood's turn? "Many factors play into our decision-making process, but most importantly we look for someone who can sing a memorable rendition. The national anthem is a difficult song to sing and we look for someone who can deliver a first-class performance. We also look for someone who is nationally and internationally known as the performance will be televised worldwide in 230 countries and territories," he said.
Memorable? Check. First-class? Totally. Known all over the world? God, yes. So Underwood is the perfect one for the job. She joins a very, very short list of country stars who have ever sung at a Super Bowl: Charley Pride, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and the Dixie Chicks. McCarthy added that the NFL is honored that she accepted their request. Which kind of makes you wonder, has anyone ever turned them down?
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Michelle says:
I am so happy that they finally ask Carrie to do it and Can’t wait Carrie is going to kick this out of the ball park :)
S says:
I think Carrie will do an awesome job. She has a beautiful voice and can sing on-key..
Illinoiscountrygirl says:
I can feel the goosebumps already! Can’t wait!
Tiffany says:
Woo Hoo! Can’t wait to hear Carrie sing at the Super Bowl. She has an amazing voice and to hear her sing our National Anthem will be just the best ever!
DH says:
Carrie is a great singer.
Watch her nail
that song big time. She is
darling..and makes good choices..She is
a great role model for our youth…
bobbalynn says:
such an honor she will represent country music WELL and on key!!!
ken says:
Why not let her perform the halftime show?
michku3 says:
Will definitely be watching her sing! She will do a great job. Way to go Carrie!
elizab says:
Congratulations Carrie for being chosen to sing the National Anthem for the Superbowl. I know you will impressed the whole world of your amazing vocals and unbelievable range. Way to go. First the MJ tribute and now a Superbowl. What an honor. Way to go. We Carrie fans are proud. 2010 is going to be amazing for Carrie.
Mel says:
Now I wish I was going to the Super Bowl, the game doesn’t matter in person, but wow, she is going to be amazing singing our national anthem. She is such an incredible singer, beautiful, classy, and I have loved each concert I have been to. This would just be such a memorable moment and now I actually can’t wait for the Super Bowl!!
countryiscool says:
Congrats to Carrie. Our country radio station plays the national anthem every day at Noon by a different artist.
I think Carrie, LeAnn Rimes, and Faith Hill do it best.
I’m not a football fan but hubby is, so I’ll at least
watch Carrie sing.
Carrie4 says:
I cannot wait! Carrie sang in Seattle for the Seahawks a few years ago in a play-off game (BTW, Seahawks went to the Super Bowl that year..can’t remember what year it was..naughty me!)Carrie was amazing and the crowd absolutely loved her, their applause and watching and listening to Carrie sing the Nat’l Anthem that day brought chills to me! Of course I taped it! Have tomake sure all my relatives and friends know of this! Carrie, you are the best and so deserve this opportunity to share your beautiful vocals to the world!
Marlene says:
I think Carrie will a good job at the super bowl come Sunday.
William Dickey says:
FINALLY !! Someone who can SING gthe Anthem on key !!! Bill Dickey
brielle says:
“no shocker”…she will be absolutely amazing because she’s perfectly vocally amazing live..thats how you know a singer has a “God given natural talent” because they can sing when you take them out of the studio and carrie definitely delivers her vocals flawlessly live everytime! when i heard carrie was singing the national anthem i knew the NFL representatives had nailed it right to the point. a memorable rendition,first class, and known all over the world, i cant think of anyone more deserving then miss carrie underwood. i think the millions of viewers watching will feel proud to be an american since a real american singer, can do that song justice!!!!! :)
Mark Brown says:
Way to go Carrie! Glad you got the chance to sing the National Anthem for the Super Bowl!
Bree says:
So very happy for Carrie, will be watching, wtg girl!!~~
K says:
Wow, what a huge honor for Carrie! She’s the prefect choice to perform the anthem at such a well-known event. She absolutely nails this song everytime, and she sings the way it should be done- pure vocal talent with no emblishments or overdone notes.
She will do America proud with her beautiful voice and will probably gain more than a few more fans in the process.
Congratulations to her- she will certaintly do us country fans proud.
Peacock Queen says:
I am so thrilled Carrie will sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl! What an honor. I will be watching and recording!
shayla says:
i just love to hear her sing, so the fact that she will be televised singing live,she is so wonderfull. she is beautifull, talented and a sweet girl, shes genuine down to earth,strong morals and values, what more can you ask for in a idol?? no wonder carrie has millions of fans all over the world! :)
Alex says:
Nationally famous?! I live in Poland and no one knows her over here,I tried to get her cd here and in other european countries and they don’t have it in stores at all.To the carrie fans-plz don’t atack me i’m just saying the truth-personally I think Carrie is a very nice person with a really gr8 voice -I know her just because I ran into her video on You-tube ,but u will never hear her songs on TV or in the radio.The only famous country singers here are-faith hill, shania twain,Leann rimes and Taylor swift and that’s it, oh and also Kieth Urban-but that’s just because he’s Niole’s husband.
OldGoat34 says:
Doing the NA at the Superbowl Now Carrie a kind of sweep She’s done it for Nascar,The World Series,Now the Superbowl.Can’t wait she does the NA Beautifully and the way its written and Acapella as well.
Oscar says:
Will this girl stop at nothing for publicity? The total disrespect for people dying of swine flu, and The participation in a tribute to one of the most sick and twisted individuals in music history was the last straw! Now the National Anthem. How will this turn out? “Oh say can you “uh” see by “like” the dawns “um” early light “omg”
Kate says:
Oscar
OK. I’ll bite. What are you on Oscar? And, who let you out to play?
Kate says:
Alex
I think you mean ‘internationally’? To say that ‘no one’ knows Carrie in Poland is quite an exaggeration, don’t you think? True Carrie is not promoted in Europe but her latest release ‘Play On’ was released in a number of the countries in the European market and judging from itunes sales and singles play, Carrie is known Internationally. Does that mean that she is known the world over? Probably not, but who is? I live in North America and there are lots of artists I’ve never heard or heard of. Doesn’t mean they are not known by others, appreciated, and considered stars.
By the way the music you hear by Hill, Rimes is old and remixed for pop, not country and Taylor Swift is a pop artist with country origin.
Kate says:
Oscar
I don’t like jerks who dig..if you’re going to throw mud be ready to get it back.
Alex says:
Listen I didn’t say anything wrong about her-I think she has gr8 a voice and a gr8 personality-but I live in Poland and I know-u won’t find any interviews with her in magazines over here, or on tv and they don’t play her songs neither in Polish nor German nor Italian music channels here.And who’s throwing mud-u Carrie fans have real big issues-common I didn’t say anything wrong about her!!! so calm down.She might have fans in the UK because they listen to country music.Country music is not that popular in countries where ppl don’t speak english just like latin music is not that popular in countries where ppl don’t speak spanish .ok, that’s gr8 she’s the most popular American idol in America , but over here the most popular American Idol is Kelly clarckson -because that’s kind of music ppl listen to over here and country is a TYPICAL american music which is not that popular in European countries -like what u are going to blame me for that now?! And again I have all the respect for Carrie - I think she’s a gr8 singer and yes, if she sang pop and not country-I agree she might have been even more popular than Kelly Clarckson. I REST MY CASE.
Oscar says:
Really, well I don’t like broads that bite. I also don’t like broads that make swine flu jokes, and support a child molester by participation in a tribute.
mahalia says:
Faith gave one of the most amazing renditions of the song, She ranks at the top with Whitney in her version. Carrie can only hope she does as good as Faith.
patty says:
I don’t understand how hard it could be singing the NA, because we all know it is NOT sung live. They go in the studio and sing it perfectly and polished and just lip sync it the day of the game. What ever happened to live singing, warts and all? Of course she will sound great, but like others before her, it will be how well she lip syncs. Unfortunately the public is not told this, they think the performer just went up there cold and sang it live and perfectly.
John says:
I am a big fan of you know who and I am happy that her name is not brought up here. This blog is about Carrie and I cant wait to hear her. I am glad that they picked a country artist and I really dont think there is anyone better than Carrie to sing it. She will be better than good.
rosyz says:
Mahalia, Carrie was chosen because they she can sing and will do as well. Faith did great and so were others and Cariie will just kill it too. So no worry ; just be ready and enjoy the event. By then you will be convinced.
Patty , Carrie does not lip sync and she sings well live and sometimes much better than a record. She is really that good.
Kate says:
Carrie Underwood has already performed this song LIVE on a number of other sports events and did an equal if not superior rendition than her predecessors. Check out youtube for yourself.
If any of these other stars performed NA at the superbowl (Whitney, Hill)then their performance was also pre-recorded as it is stipulated by the organization of the superbowl event.
And… given Carrie’s record and given her ’stellar-too numerous-Live-performances’ to mention I am somewhat surprised (but not completely) that people like, Patty, still find it necessary to question Carrie’s vocals.
Kate says:
Alex
Wow! What happened? Something got screwed up in the translation I guess. Re-read my post, I wasn’t arguing with you. I was providing some justification for why Carrie might not be as well known in your country. I questioned your use of the word ‘no-one’ which is a pretty broad generalization.. I was definitely not attacking you.
Wow, talk about being defensive..Relax Alex, you said nothing wrong.
carriefanforever says:
Carrie’s rendition is FLAWLESS. She does it FEARLESSLY. She did not make swine flu jokes, she READ a teleprompter that someone else wrote. She is pure class, immensely talented, and I am glad that the NFL knows a tremendous voice when they hear it. When she sang at the baseball game and the Nascar event, she rendered the announcers speechless. Her voice is an instrument straight from God!!
Kevin L. says:
Oscar you are out of line. Believe it or not there are people who support, and believe in child molesters and sexual predators including myself. Carrie seems to support this too, otherwise she would have NEVER agreed to participate. If you don’t support sexual predators that’s your choice, it’s also mine and Carrie Underwoods to support them any way we can.
Wendy O. says:
I have to agree with some and disagree with others. First I don’t think Carrie has that much control over her private or personal life to decide what she’s going to do. The people controlling her do. Some things she is told to do she might personally like more than other things though, like singing at the Super Bowl, but reading awful swine flu jokes and paying tribute to a singer who happens to be a sexual predator isn’t up to her. That choice is made by her handlers. She’s just doing what she’s told. I thought the swine flu joke was terrible, and participating in the Jackson tribute is disgusting, but I can appreciate her for doing what she is told to do. She’s my idol.
Veeta says:
They’re not letting her do the halftime show? I remember Shania did it in 2003 and she was well past her peak at that time. If I’m not wrong, Jennifer Hudson and some other American Idol winner also did the national anthem. Interesting.
carrefanforever says:
velveta, its not a matter of “letting her”. The halftime show is booked a year in advance and is usually someone not currently committed to a touring schedule, thus THE WHO. They ask only the very best vocalists to perform the National Anthem. Carrie fits that description!
cassie says:
I am like a HUGE football fan and we all know Carrie will do an excellent job if not fantastic!
Robin says:
While MJ was a weird dude and perhaps a child predator, the only actual accuser was proven to be and admitted to be a liar about the situation. Did it happen to others? They all so no, so maybe Carrie choices to give him the benefit of the dout. That’s her right.
Linda says:
Oh, Carrie will do wonderfully. She can carry a tune so easily.
Waverly says:
I find it funny that everyone keeps mentioning that they “can’t believe Carrie isn’t doing the halftime show”. Does no one remember that she did the halftime show just a few years ago? Maybe they try to give other performers the opportunity to do the halftime show and chose an amazing singer for the National Anthem.
Peacock Queen says:
Was Michael Jackson ever convicted of being a child molester? What happened to “innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?” No doubt Michael was a very troubled human being. His bizarre behavior, including cutting on his face until he was barely recognizable, was an indication that his soul was deeply troubled. But this is about MUSIC, and there is no denying MJ’s contributions to the world of music. “Thriller” is the best selling album world-wide of all time. No other album has come close to it. His video for the title track is a classic, and in my opinion, the best video ever made. The man was flawed, but he was also a musical and entertainment genious. Plus, he is dead, and it isn’t respectful to speak ill of the dead. Decent people know better, and Carrie is certainly a decent person. The tribute is appropriate to a man who made wonderful contributions to the world of entertainment and who has passed on (just like Elvis).
Buck says:
Carrie’s rendition of The Star Spangled banner will be without a doubt one of the most heartfelt ever performed. I am quite certain it will be released as a single for some charity and be a huge hit…
D Trotter says:
If ever anyone was “Born to Sing the National Anthem”, it’s Carrie. Might even make a good song title for her
Kate says:
P.Q.
Your post is Perfect. The tribute and recognition is not for Michael Jackson the man, but for Michael Jackson the artist..and what a musical genius he was!
Melissa says:
Carrie will do a wonderful rendition of the national athem. I just want to know what happen with Terrance, her bodyguard. I haven’t seen him with her lately. I hope he is ok.
Amy says:
I was wondering the same thing. He is awesome. I hope I get a peek of him next weekend at the Super Bowl. Carrie is going to do an excellent job.
CarrieFan says:
Carrie will do an awesome job…and I have to agree with the others that while MJ was obviously disturbed he was never convicted and should be recognized just the same as the other artists for his contributions.
Jay says:
Carrie is a wonderful singer and will do the song justice. She is not, however, a worldwide star. Country music doesn’t translate well over here (Europe). I’ve kept up with her after Kelly Clarkson (one of our fav’s!) made it big over here. I thought that if other American Idol winners were as good, I want to know their music! Carrie’s way up there on my list, for sure!
Julie4726 says:
mahalia,
I agree with you, Faith was great! Going to be hard to beat.
Robin says:
Jay - I think you are missing the international country music movement band wagon. Over the last several years (before Taylor’s concerts this past year) - country music has been growing by leaps and bounds internationally.
For those artists who have marketed their music over seas, they are reaping a large international fan base (Sugarland, Dierks Bentley, etc.). Carrie has not marketed herself much internationally. She did a promotional show in Asia and it was huge. The world is just waiting for country aritsts to bring theirselves to them and for the one’s who have, they are garnering large fan bases. But as anything else, it has to grow. Country music (both pop and Americana) are growing as a whole (not by artist), in Australia, Great Britan and Germany.
But, just like in America, if you don’t listen to it much and especially where they have little public promotion of a genre, you aren’t going to hear it. When the music business goes “who” when a country act wins an award that they expected a pop act to win, that tells me “the industry” is out of touch with the people. Same thing is going on in Europe, there are a ton of country fans that are out of the mainstreams line of sight.
julietb says:
Julie4726 , Carrie will do great as well. No doubt about it. Way to go Carrie. She is one of the best vocalists out there.
Peacock Queen says:
Thanks, Kate!
As for some of the other posts about Carrie not being known internationally, as Robin points out, that is because she has not been heavily promoted outside the States. I didn’t know who Sia is until I kept hearing a snippit of a great song on an automobile commercial and decided I needed to hear the rest of it. Apparently, Sia is a huge pop star in Europe, but until the commercial, I had never heard of her or the song. That is why you PROMOTE your music, if you are an artist, any way you can (for those who are bashing her for being chosen to sing the NA). Singing the National Anthem before the Super Bowl will help her to be introduced to a wider audience, and people who have never heard of her but like the way she sings will probably be inclined to check her out. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
Rita says:
My congrats to singing the Super Bowl Carrie! She will be able to deliver a fantastic job of the song I am sure. Can’t wait to see her~
jbkcon says:
Come on guys Carrie Underwood can sell records but she her voice is nothing more than normal. This performance was nowhere near Faith , Whitney,ot Leanne. There where no goose bumps in this performance.
Julie4726 says:
jbkcon,
You said it all. It wasn’t that great.