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Carrie Underwood is set to return as the voice of the “Sunday Night Football” opening anthem, an announcement that has drawn varied reactions from NFL and country music fans alike.
NBC announced this week that the country superstar will return for her 14th consecutive season to perform the iconic “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” opening for SNF. The new opener debuts Sept. 13 ahead of the Dallas Cowboys’ matchup against the New York Giants.
The announcement was met with plenty of excitement from fans who have come to associate Underwood with Sunday nights.
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Carrie Underwood sent fans into a frenzy with her latest “Sunday Night Football” announcement. (Variety via Getty Images)
“YAYYY!!! Now when will she perform the halftime show!?!? She deserves it and would have the BEST show!” one user commented on Instagram.
“Well done! Make her the Superbowl halftime show. Add some class and respect after last year’s blunder,” another added.
“One of my Favorite parts of SNF!!!,” one fan quipped.
But not everyone was focused on celebrating the eight-time Grammy winner’s return. Instead, several commenters began campaigning for rising country singer Ella Langley, suggesting the “Choosin’ Texas” singer should eventually take over the role.
“Can We get a @ellalangleymusic Sunday Night Football Anthem 🤷🏻♂️ Just a thought,” one follower wrote.
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Carrie Underwood is making her highly anticipated return as the voice of the “Sunday Night Football” opening anthem, but some fans are calling on Ella Langley to take over. (Getty Images)
“Time to pass it on. Let Ella sing it,” another wrote.
“Its time for a change. We need more diverse lineup,” another comment read.
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Underwood first took over NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” opening in 2013 after Faith Hill’s departure. More than a decade later, she’s become one of the most recognizable faces — and voices — associated with the NFL’s primetime broadcasts.
This will mark Underwood’s 14 consecutive year of singing the SNF opening anthem. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
This year’s show opener will feature a refreshed production and a more rock-inspired feel.
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According to NBC, the sequence includes scenes filmed inside a recording studio, an intimate music venue and a packed stadium, continuing what Underwood described as her “rock star fever dream.”
Christina Dugan Ramirez is an entertainment journalist with more than 15 years of experience, including a decade at PEOPLE writing high-profile cover stories, covering Hollywood’s biggest events, and interviewing many of the industry’s most influential stars before joining Fox News Digital in 2024.
