Eight-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton will become the latest country artist to usher in the Super Bowl, with a performance at Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Feb. 12 on FOX, just prior to the game’s kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Stapleton is known for his bluesy, supple vocal delivery as well as his songwriting chops (in addition to his own material, he’s written hits for Kenny Chesney, Josh Turner and Darius Rucker, among others). He’s also the reigning CMA male vocalist of the year, having won in the category six times. This year’s Super Bowl pregame performance lineup also includes R&B artist Babyface performing “America The Beautiful,” while Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Rihanna is this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performer.
Stapleton is the third consecutive country singer to handle national anthem duties prior to the big game since 2021–Eric Church joined Jazmine Sullivan for a rendition of the anthem in 2021, while Mickey Guyton performed the national anthem last year.
Here, Billboard looks back at other country music artists who have performed the national anthem throughout the years.
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Charley Pride
In 1974, the late Charley Pride became the first country artist to perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl, just prior to the Miami Dolphins taking on the Minnesota Vikings for Super Bowl VIII at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The University of Texas Longhorn Band also performed during the halftime show.
The Dolphins triumphed over the Vikings, 24-7.
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Garth Brooks
Image Credit: George Rose/GI In 1993, while riding a hot streak of unprecedented sales success for a country artist (including his albums No Fences, Ropin’ The Wind, and The Chase), Garth Brooks did the honors of performing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
That year’s halftime show performer was Michael Jackson.
The Cowboys triumphed over the Bills, 52-17.
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Faith Hill
In 2000, Faith Hill performed the national anthem prior to the kickoff for Super Bowl XXXIV, which featured the Tennessee Titans against the St. Louis Rams at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
In an interview with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last year, Hill recalled her Super Bowl performance, saying, “The most extraordinary amount of pressure, ever…singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl was terrifying. However, when I sang it, The Tennessee Titans happened to make it to the Super Bowl the same year, and I had accepted the honor…that calmed me because I was so proud of our team. I spent a lot of time int eh restroom, rehearsing with a boom box. I walked from the public restroom out to the field and sang the national anthem.”
That year’s halftime show featured several performers, including Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton and Enrique Iglesias.
The Rams triumphed over the Titans, 23-16.
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The Chicks
In 2003, the Chicks (then known as the Dixie Chicks) performed the national anthem for Super Bowl XXXVII. That year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced off against the Oakland Raiders at Quaalcom Stadium in San Diego, California. The Buccaneers triumphed over the Raiders, 48-21.
That year’s music lineup offered a double-shot of country music, as the halftime show also featured Shania Twain, in addition to No Doubt and Sting.
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Carrie Underwood
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage In 2010, Carrie Underwood performed the national anthem prior to XLIV, as the New Orleans Saints faced off against the Indianapolis Colts at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. While Underwood performed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” rock icons The Who performed the halftime show.
The Saints were victorious over the Colts, 31-17.
Prior to her performance in 2010, Underwood told USA Today, “My biggest fear is the words…of course you know the words, but if you’re going to mess up, that’d be the time, right?
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Luke Bryan
In 2017, Luke Bryan performed the national anthem to launch Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, as the New England Patriots faced off against the Atlanta Falcons.
“I said, ‘Hell yes, I’ll do it!’” Bryan told People. “Is the anthem challenging? Yes. Is it nerve-wracking? Yes. But I moved to Nashville to follow my dreams and singing the national anthem on that stage doesn’t get any bigger.”
Original cast members from Hamilton: An American Musical performed “America the Beautiful.” Lady Gaga performed the Super Bowl halftime show in 2017.
The Patriots triumphed over the Falcons, 34-28.
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Eric Church With Jazmine Sullivan
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/GI for TW In 2021, before the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida, Eric Church opened Super Bowl LV with a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” alongside Grammy-nominated R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan.
The pre-game show also featured H.E.R. performing “America the Beautiful,” and Alicia Keys performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” while the halftime show featured The Weeknd.
The Buccaneers triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9.
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Mickey Guyton
In 2022, Guyton performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, before the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20.
During the pre-show telecast, Jhené Aiko sang “America the Beautiful,” and Mary Mary sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” while the halftime show featured artists including Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige.