Reba McEntire opened Super Bowl LVIII by performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the kickoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
Backed by the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard with drummers from the United States Navy Band, the queen of country delivered a faithful rendition of the national anthem as she sang, “O say can you see by the dawn’s early light / What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming / Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight / O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?”
Meanwhile, actor Daniel Durant served as this year’s official interpreter, translating the lyrics into American Sign Language as the superstar sang and a massive American flag was unfurled on the field of Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
McEntire opened up about the opportunity to perform the anthem on the biggest stage in sports just days before the game. “I am honored beyond words to be chosen to get to sing it,” the three-time GRAMMY winner shared during Apple Music’s pre-game press conference. “It means that I get to sing a very special song for all Americans, people all around the world, who have really worked so hard for our freedom and to give us peace…It’s not about me.
For last year’s big game, Chris Stapleton turned the national anthem into a gruff, gutsy ballad — accompanying himself on the electric guitar while Troy Kotsur (Durant’s Oscar-winning co-star in the 2021 drama CODA) translated the performance into ASL.
Other artists who’ve had the distinction of singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl include Mickey Guyton, Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan, P!nk, Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera and more.
Likely the most famous rendition of the song, however, remains Whitney Houston’s performance at Super Bowl XXV, which became a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 and peaked even higher at No. 6 when it was re-released a decade later.
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