What are the five best Super Bowl national anthems of all-time? A recent rendition is right near the top as an unlikely singer left individuals crying on the sideline.
The list is rounded out by a performance at a time of major strife in the United States with uncertain times ahead.
In many ways, Super Bowl national anthems have become part of the American lexicon. It’s a way to show patriotism and unity at times when such seems too far removed from reality. Here, we check in on the five best of all-time.
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5. Kelly Clarkson: Super Bowl XLVI
A decade removed from being the first ever winner of American Idol, this pop sensation thrilled onlookers in Indianapolis with a soul-filled and dramatic rendition of the National Anthem. She belted high notes, went low when she needed to and completed the song in timely fashion — the latter fact is important when analyzing the best Super Bowl national anthems of all-time. Clarkson rocked. The same thing could not be said for Tom Brady and a New England Patriots team that was upset by the New York Giants.
4. Mariah Carey: Super Bowl XXXVI
Like a couple Super Bowl national anthem performances on this list, Carey’s rendition in 2002 came amid a major cultural and societal backdrop. It came mere months after the devastating 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Emotions were high. She put absolutely everything into the rendition, clearly showing emotion on her part as the performance played out. Tears were the name of the game. The NFL joined MLB and other sports in acting as an outlet for American society at that point. Carey’s performance helped us forge ahead just before Brady and his Patriots defeated the then-St. Louis Rams.
3. Beyonce: Super Bowl XXXVI
Noticing a theme here? The Patriots appeared in the first three big games listed as we run through the best Super Bowl national anthems of all-time. It’s probably more of a coincidence than anything else. In any event, Beyonce absolutely smashed her rendition a mere six months after the now-global icon dropped here debut album Dangerously In Love. The former Destiny’s Child star certainly did proclaim herself as a legitimate solo star and international icon in front of hundreds of millions.
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2. Chris Stapleton: Super Bowl LVII
A male country singer at No. 2 on our list of the best Super Bowl national anthems? Consider yourself shocked. But what Stapleton was able to do ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles was nothing short of extraordinary. His passion-filled rendition had Philadelphia head coach Nick Siraianni and others in tears as he blazed through an epic performance. Rarely will you find a man outdo women in the Star Spangled Banner. But Stapleton did just that in vaulting to No. 2 in our list.
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1. Whitney Houston: Super Bowl XXV
There is little doubt that Whitney Houston will stand No. 1 on this list for good. The late-great diva took to Miami ahead of this Buffalo Bills and New York Giants game. The backdrop was sobering for America as then-president George Bush had led us into our first war since Vietnam in attempting to push Iraq back from Kuwait. The end result was an absolutely stunning rendition from Houston as a patriotic audience waived small American flags throughout the stadium. Once Houston finished up with fighter jets hovering above, the scene seemed to be something out of a Hollywood movie.
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