Carrie Underwood is set to return as the voice of Sunday Night Football's opening anthem, an announcement that has drawn varied reactions from NFL and country music fans alike.
NBC announced this week that the country superstar will return for her 14th consecutive season to perform the iconic "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" opening for SNF. The new opener debuts Sept. 13 ahead of the Dallas Cowboys' matchup against the New York Giants.
The announcement was met with plenty of excitement from fans who have come to associate Underwood with Sunday nights.
"YAYYY!!! Now when will she perform the halftime show!?!? She deserves it and would have the BEST show!" one user commented on Instagram.
"Well done! Make her the Superbowl halftime show. Add some class and respect after last year's blunder," another added.
"One of my Favorite parts of SNF!!!," one fan quipped.
But not everyone was focused on celebrating the eight-time Grammy winner's return. Instead, several commenters began campaigning for rising country singer Ella Langley, suggesting the "Choosin' Texas" singer should eventually take over the role.
"Can We get a @ellalangleymusic Sunday Night Football Anthem 🤷🏻♂️ Just a thought," one follower wrote.
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"Time to pass it on. Let Ella sing it," another wrote.
"Its time for a change. We need more diverse lineup," another comment read.
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Underwood first took over NBC's Sunday Night Football opening in 2013 after Faith Hill's departure. More than a decade later, she's become one of the most recognizable faces — and voices — associated with the NFL's primetime broadcasts.
This year's show opener will feature a refreshed production and a more rock-inspired feel.
According to NBC, the sequence includes scenes filmed inside a recording studio, an intimate music venue and a packed stadium, continuing what Underwood described as her "rock star fever dream."
