Super Bowl LVIII’s “Star-Spangled Banner” performance was slightly “countrified” by the singing legend Reba McEntire on Sunday night. The country star has received a lot of positive feedback.
She had never performed at the Super Bowl before, but her performance was flawless, and the NFL players and spectators loved her for it.
The singer stepped onto the field before the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers championship game to belt out our national anthem. Her rendition was tinged with a rustic accent as she sported an ivory sequined jacket and black leggings adorned with embroidery.
It had been long since the 68-year-old singer/actress sang the national anthem. Fifty years ago, at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma, when she was just nineteen, young Reba proudly sang. It is widely believed that this was when McEntire was put on the map.
Before McEntire took the stage in the Vegas stadium, Andra Day sang a beautiful version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” primarily known as the black national anthem.
During the pre-show, rapper Post Malone performed a stripped-down rendition of “America the Beautiful.” With just an acoustic guitar and his voice, Malone stood on the field and paid tribute to America.
At a news conference on Thursday, McEntire expressed her love for Las Vegas and excitement about being a part of the inaugural Super Bowl there.
Many contemporary musicians have come under fire for attempting to modernize the song (Jose Feliciano’s 1968 World Series rendition is the quintessential example), but McEntire is receiving accolades for remaining faithful to the original.
Fireworks, American flags, and overseas soldiers were intercut throughout the performance.
For the past four Super Bowls, country singers have been chosen to perform the national anthem. In 2021, Eric Church sang a duet with R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan. Mickey Guyton sang in 2021. Chris Stapleton did the honors in 2023.
