Carrie Underwood is heading into her fourteenth consecutive year as the voice of Sunday Night Football, and this time she’s bringing a little rock and roll with her. The country superstar reworked Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’classic“I Hate Myself for Loving You”for the 2026 show open, and it’s a fitting choice for an artist who’s never hidden her love of rock music.
The new open was filmed at an intimate venue with her band, giving it a stripped-down, up-close feel. Creative director Tripp Dixon said the team worked to“match these two rock frequencies of past and present,”while Underwood described it as welcoming Sunday Night Football into her“ongoing rock star fever dream.”The performance premieres Sept. 13 on NBC and Peacock, right before the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Giants.
The 2026 NFL season officially kicked off Sept. 9 with the Patriots hosting the Seahawks, so football is officially back. But for a lot of fans, the real tradition is hearing that SNF theme song and knowing Sunday night is set. This year, that tradition gets a rock and roll twist from one of country music’s biggest stars. What’s your favorite Sunday Night Football open of all time? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
