Performing The National Anthem At The Super Bowl Is A Huge Honor
One of the biggest, if not the biggest, stages to sing the national anthem on is right before the biggest sporting event of the year – the Super Bowl. At the 2024 main event, the legendary Reba McEntire stepped up to deliver a powerful, classic rendition that made grown men cry.
She became the tenth country singer to do the honors, following in the footsteps of Charley Pride, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, and Chris Stapleton, among others.
RELATED: 10 Country Stars Who Performed The National Anthem At The Super Bowl
Did you know that four American Idol alumni have also done the honors?
With Super Bowl LX on the horizon and Season 24 of American Idol underway, we felt listing out the Idol alumni who have sung at the Super Bowl would be so much fun!
The first-ever American Idol alumni to perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl may surprise you.
1. Jordin Sparks – Super Bowl XLII (2008)
Just nine months after winning the sixth season of American Idol at 17 years old, Sparks became the first Idol to sing the national anthem before the Super Bowl. She was at the height of her fame, having released her debut album three months prior. That album included her debut single “Tattoo” and Grammy-nominated duet “No Air.”
The big game was in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, so it seemed like the perfect time for her to sing the anthem!
2. Jennifer Hudson – Super Bowl XLIII (2009)
Hudson rose to fame on the third season of American Idol. Though she did not win (she placed seventh), she has become the most successful not only in her season but in the entire franchise.
Two years after taking home the Academy Award for her role in the movie musical Dreamgirls, Hudson took center field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, to kick off Super Bowl XLII. By this point, she was also a four-time Grammy nominee.
3. Carrie Underwood – Super Bowl XLIV (2010)
The 2010 Super Bowl marked the third year in a row the NFL chose an American Idol alumnus!
By the time she performed the national anthem, Underwood had three albums to her name (which all went No. 1 on the Country Albums chart), nine No. 1 songs, 8 ACM Awards, 5 American Music Awards, 8 Billboard Music Awards, 3 BMI Awards, 5 CMA Awards, and 4 Grammy Awards.
4. Kelly Clarkson – Super Bowl LVI (2012)
After taking a year off from Idol alumni, the NFL went back to what works and asked the original American Idol champion to do the honors. Kelly Clarkson won the show’s first season in 2002 and is arguably the most successful singer to come from the show.