Carrie Underwood opened her 14th season of NBC’s Sunday Night Football on Sunday, performing“Waiting All Day for Sunday Night”with a production that leaned all the way into the rock roots of the anthem. The song is based on Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’1988 hit“I Hate Myself for Loving You,”and this year’s opening video made sure nobody forgot it. The clip moved through a small club, a vast stadium, and a recording studio, a concept SNF creative director Tripp Dixon said was inspired by Carrie’s deep, well-documented love of rock music. Carrie herself called the show open a welcome into her“ongoing rock star fever dream.”
The rock direction shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s been paying attention. Carrie has spent recent months covering songs from Motörhead, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park in her live shows, blurring the lines between her country foundation and the harder-edged music she grew up loving. Fourteen seasons into the gig, she’s still finding new ways to keep the theme fresh.
The night also marked the return of real football, with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the New York Giants in the season opener between the two NFC East rivals. As always, Carrie worked the teams into her changing lyrics, giving Cowboys and Giants fans their moment before kickoff. What did you think of this year’s rock-heavy opening? Let us know in the comments.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
