Carrie Underwood Returns for 14th SNF Anthem as NBC Shifts Opening to Rock Theme
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 7
Carrie Underwood Returns for 14th SNF Anthem as NBC Shifts Opening to Rock Theme
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 7
Summary
NBC used the Hall of Fame game to tease Carrie Underwood’s 14th Sunday Night Football opener, keeping her in the role she has held since 2013.
A rock-driven refresh is the main change: creative director Tripp Dixon said the new version draws on Underwood’s love of rock and the anthem’s roots in Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You.”
The update follows chatter over Underwood’s return, but NBC is leaning into continuity by pairing a familiar voice with a higher-energy sound for the 2026 season.
The new Sunday Night Football opening is set to debut Sept. 13, extending one of the NFL broadcast’s most recognizable traditions into a 14th straight year.