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TheSuper Bowlhas one very patriotic kick-off before the main event even begins: the national anthem.
Some of America's biggest names have sung "The Star-Spangled Banner," but that wasn't always the case. Marching bands and instrumentalists made up the bulk of national anthem performers beforeDiana Rosstook on the notoriously tricky song in 1982, kicking off the Super Bowl's "broad stripes and bright stars" pop star era.
Since Ross' performance in Michigan, the anthem has become a pregame Super Bowl tradition, with each performer adding their own spin to the patriotic classic.
Atthe 2026 Super Bowlon Feb. 8,Charlie Puthwill become the second New Jersey native, after the lateWhitney Houston, tobelt out the national anthem.
In addition to Ross, Houston and Stapleton, here's a look back at all of the superstar singers who've tackled the anthem through the years.
1982: Diana Ross
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"The Boss" singer became the first pop star ever to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl. The Detroit native sang a capella at her hometown stadium while decked out in a bedazzled tracksuit and red headband, keeping her iconic hair in check. She would return to the Super Bowl stage in 1996 as the halftime performer.
1984: Barry Manilow
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Barry Manilowsang his heart out during the national anthem in Tampa, Fla., becoming the first male pop artist to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl.
1987: Neil Diamond
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Neil Diamondkept it brief with a no-frills rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Lasting just 62 seconds, his take remains the shortest national anthem performance in Super Bowl history.
1989: Billy Joel
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Performing a capella,Billy Joeltook on the challenging tune without the comfort of his keys. In the end, the crowd became The Piano Man's instrument!
1990: Aaron Neville
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At Super Bowl XXIV in New Orleans, Grammy-winning singerAaron Nevilleperformed solo for the national anthem while wearing his signature St. Jude medal earring on his left ear.
1991: Whitney Houston
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Widely considered the most iconic national anthem performance of all time, Houston's 1991 rendition took place during the Persian Gulf War and aired as part of the first globally televised Super Bowl. While Houston delivered a powerful live performance at Tampa Stadium, audiences at home heard a pre-recorded version.
1992: Harry Connick Jr.
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Before Super Bowl XXVI kicked off in Minneapolis, jazz virtuosoHarry Connick Jr.brought his signature charm as he delivered a smooth rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" in a sleek black suit and tie.
1993: Garth Brooks
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WhenGarth Brookssang the national anthem for Super Bowl XXVII, he was accompanied by deaf actressMarlee Matlin, who signed in American Sign Language (ASL).
PerTaste of Country, the country music star reportedly almost backed out over a dispute about airing his controversial "We Shall Be Free" video, ultimately reshaping the rules for Super Bowl performers.
1994: Natalie Cole
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Natalie Coleand her backing choir took their time in the spotlight. At the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, shedelivered the second-longest Super Bowl national anthem performanceat two minutes and 33 seconds, weaving in some lyrics from "America the Beautiful" for extra patriotism.
1996: Vanessa Williams
Dressed in a white skirt suit,Vanessa Williamsshowed her American pride with a beautiful performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XXX.
The crowd reaction was very different from when sheperformed the national anthem at an NBA gamein London in January 2026 and was heckled — the Memphis Grizzlies were taking on the Orlando Magic amid PresidentDonald Trump'spursuit of acquiring Greenland.
1997: Luther Vandross
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Late R&B legendLuther Vandrossdelivered a soulful rendition of the national anthem for Super Bowl XXXI, where the Green Bay Packers went on to beat the New England Patriots.
1998: Jewel
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What do you get when you mix the colors of the American flag? Purple! Grammy-nominated singerJewelkept it simple in a solid lavender top while performing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXII.
1999: Cher
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You gotta "believe" inCher! The pop icon brought her powerhouse vocals to Miami's Pro Player Stadium when she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the Super Bowl XXXIII kickoff.
2000: Faith Hill
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Faith Hillperformed a stunning version of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV, becoming the third country artist to take the honor. (The first was singer Charley Pride in 1974.)
2001: Backstreet Boys
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Though they turned down the offer to headline the halftime show in 2001, theBackstreet Boysagreed to sing the national anthem before kickoff, becoming the first pop group to do so.
"At the time we came from the era of, we loved the Whitney Houston rendition of the national anthem,"Nick CartertoldEntertainment Tonightin June 2021. "And for us, we got the choice, andwe passed on the halftime. But it was a memorable experience for everyone."
2002: Mariah Carey
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Mariah Careyis arguably one of the greatest vocalists ever, so it was only natural for the superstar to incorporate her signature whistle tones into "The Star-Spangled Banner" for Super Bowl XXXVI.
2003: The Chicks
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The Chicks(formerly the Dixie Chicks) made history as the first all-female group to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, delivering a performance filled with seamless harmonies.
2004: Beyoncé
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Still earning her stripes as a solo performer in 2004,Beyoncégave a powerhouse performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at her hometown stadium in Houston for Super Bowl XXXVIII.
2006: Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville
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Neville returned to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl in Detroit for a second time, partnering with the "Queen of Soul,"Aretha Franklin. They were joined on piano by Neville's fellow New Orleans native Dr. John, making the moment a tribute to the Big Easy less than six months after the region was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
2007: Billy Joel
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Becoming the only solo performer to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl twice, Joel got to bring out his instrument of choice for round two. His second rendition lasted 90 seconds,according toRolling Stone.
2008: Jordin Sparks
This performance has stuck with us just like a tattoo! The year after beingcrowned the winner ofAmerican Idol,Jordin Sparks— daughter of retired NFL pro Phillippi Sparks — sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at her hometown stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
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2009: Jennifer Hudson
Keeping up with their streak ofAmerican Idolchamps, the NFL tapped futureEGOT winnerJennifer Hudsonto showcase her vocal chops with a national anthem performance at Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa.
2010: Carrie Underwood
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In 2010,Carrie Underwoodbecame the third consecutiveIdolwinner to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the Super Bowl kickoff.
2011: Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilerais undeniably a massively talented vocalist, so hitting all the right notes while performing the national anthem was a given. However, shedidstumble on a few lyrics — turning "O'er the ramparts we watched" into something that sounded like "What so proudly we washed."
2012: Kelly Clarkson
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Following in the footsteps of otherAmerican Idolvictors, the OG champKelly Clarksonperformed the patriotic tune at the Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, with a children's choir providing background vocals.
2013: Alicia Keys
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Surpassing Cole's record,Alicia Keysgave the longest performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Super Bowl history, stretching the song to two minutes and 36 seconds.
2014: Renée Fleming
Grammy-winning opera singerRenée Flemingcaptivated millions with her powerfulrendition of the national anthemprior to Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey.
2015: Idina Menzel
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TonywinnerIdina Menzelwowed the crowd with her Broadway chops when she sang the national anthem before kickoff time in Arizona.
2016: Lady Gaga
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A year before sheheadlined the Super Bowl halftime show,Lady Gagaperformed "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the pregame festivities for Super Bowl 50, wearing a red pantsuit and red glitter eyeshadow.
2017: Luke Bryan
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Country singerLuke Bryandidn't have the safety net of a pre-taped recording when he sang the national anthem before the match-up between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons at Super Bowl LI.
During a 2019appearance onThe Tonight Show, Bryan recounted the experience to hostJimmy Fallon.
"You either get the anthem right, or you don't," Bryan said before adding, "I did it where I actually went out there and performed it without pre-taping it or anything."
2018: Pink
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Raise your glass toPink, who powered through the national anthem despite battling the flu. Her professionalism didn't go unnoticed, as her celebrity peers took to social media topraise her performanceand call her the "real MVP" of the night.
2019: Gladys Knight
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Grammy winnerGladys Knightdelivered an unforgettable rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl LIII. Ahead of her performance, Knight expressed her gratitude for the opportunity.
"I am proud to use my voice to uniteand represent our country in my hometown of Atlanta," the legendary singer said in a statement released by the NFL.
2020: Demi Lovato
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In one of her first performances sinceher 2018 drug overdose,Demi Lovatomade a triumphant return to the stage, belting out the national anthem at Super Bowl LIV in Florida.
2021: Eric Church & Jazmine Sullivan
Country artistEric Churchand R&B powerhouseJazmine Sullivanjoined forces for a one-of-a-kind take on the national anthem,blending their respective stylesinto a moving display of unity.
Church had previously said he would "never sing the national anthem" unless asked to do so for the Super Bowl, which he never thought would happen.
When hewastapped for the Big Game, Church was hesitant — until hearing Sullivan's voice.
"And then I heard her, andI'm not missing a chance to singwith her. And that was it," he told Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music Country'sToday's Country Radioin 2021. "Once I heard her voice, I said, 'Okay, I'm in.' "
2022: Mickey Guyton
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Wearing all blue,Mickey Guytonkicked off Super Bowl LVI bycrooning "The Star-Spangled Banner," backed by a choir dressed in all white. She followed that pinch-me moment with one more: meetingPrince Harry, who attended with cousinPrincess Eugenie, in what appeared to be a VIP section of SoFi Stadium.
Guyton shared a photo of herself next to the masked Duke of Sussexon Instagram, writing in the caption, "I met Prince Harry. He was just lovely.I even curtsied in my track suit."
2023: Chris Stapleton
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Stapleton helpedcommence Super Bowl LVIIwith a national anthem performance, marking the third consecutive year a country singer held the honor.Troy Kotsur— theOscar-winning actor who starred in 2021'sCODA— signed the anthem in ASL alongside Stapleton.
The Grammy winner's performancebrought many to tears, including Philadelphia Eagles coachNick Sirianniand Kansas City Chiefs tight endTravis Kelce.
2024: Reba McEntire
Reba McEntirebrought her signature country twangfor the national anthem,dazzling a crowdof millions in bedazzled black jeans and a shimmering metallic beige blazer.
2025: Jon Batiste
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Louisiana nativeJon Batistereceived a warm receptionin his hometown (he's from Metairie, La., a suburb of New Orleans) for his jazzy rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The Grammy-winning musician played a paint-spattered piano —painted by his wife, journalist and authorSuleika Jaouad— as hedonned 72 carats worth of diamonds.
2026: Charlie Puth
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Puth will perform the national anthem at the 2026 Super Bowl in California, with the "Changes" singer revealing toRolling Stonethat he auditioned for the gig.
"I actually have always wanted to do this, and I recorded a little demo, just me singing with the Rhodes, and sent it to Roc Nation. I've been toldJay-Zloved it, and it got to [NFL Commissioner Roger] Goodell, and they all said that I could do it," he told the publication in January 2026.
He later added, "I applied. I auditioned for it, but I made up my own audition because I've always wanted to do it — because I love it musically. It's the best song. Musically, it's so special."
There was some backlash after Puth was announced as the national anthem singer.
However, he responded to criticson X(formerly Twitter) in December 2025, writing, "I'll never claim to be as good of a singer as Whitney Houston ever was. But I assure youwe're putting a really special arrangement together— in D major. It'll be one of my best vocal performances."
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