Jon Batiste sang the National Anthem at the 2025 Super Bowl, taking on the prestigious honor and joining a list of iconic stars who have sang at the NFL’s biggest night of the year.
When the Super Bowl rolls around each year, fans are always wondering who is going to be the headlining halftime show performer. What football enthusiasts forget about is that there is also a moving pregame performance that usually includes “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.”
Every singer puts their own spin on the challenging song, but no one will ever match Whitney Houston’s 1991 rendition that set the bar to impossible heights. That gold standard has never been matched, and it’s bittersweet to hear Houston’s words about that big day because we lost her in 2012. “If you were there, you could feel the intensity,” Houston shared in an interview for her greatest hits album, via the Today Show. “We were in the Gulf War at the time. It was an intense time for our country. A lot of our daughters and sons were overseas fighting. I could see in the stadium, I could see the fear, the hope, the intensity, the prayers going up.”
So, take a look at the list of the famous faces who have performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl over the decades!
Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste sang the “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 2025 Super Bowl on Feb. 9 before the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles went head-to-head.
The New Orleans native proudly sang his stunning rendition in his hometown.
2024: Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire certainly did not disappoint with her stunning rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the 2024 Super Bowl.
2023: Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton performed in the preshow before Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona.
2022: Mickey Guyton
Country musician Mickey Guyton performed the national anthem before Super Bowl LVI between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022, in Inglewood, California.
2021: Eric Church & Jazmine Sullivan
Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan performed six feet apart (hello, COVID-19 years) during the Super Bowl LV Pregame at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021, in Tampa, Florida.
2020: Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to Super Bowl LIV between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020, in Miami, Florida.
2019: Gladys Knight
Motown legend Gladys Knight sang prior to Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia.
2018: Pink
Pink gave the national anthem her spin during the Super Bowl LII pregame show at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2017: Luke Bryan
Country star Luke Bryan sang his heart out prior to Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
2016: Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga was a vision in red while singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl L at Levi’s Stadium on February 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, California. This appearance showed how ready she was to be the halftime headliner which she accomplished the following year.
2015: Idina Menzel
Broadway star Idina Menzel gave a jazzy riff to the national anthem prior to Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015, in Glendale, Arizona.
2014: Renée Fleming
Opera singer Renée Fleming gorgeous sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” during Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks on February 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
2013: Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys performed during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Pregame Show at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2012: Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson (and her adorable bangs) sang the national anthem with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Pregame Show at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2011: Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera belted the national anthem during Super Bowl XLV between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas.
2010: Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood was a vision in white while singing the national anthem at Super Bowl XLIV between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints on February 7, 2010, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
2009: Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson brought the house down singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the pre-game show prior to the start of Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
2008: Jordin Sparks
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks performed the national anthem during the Super Bowl XLII pre-game show on February 3, 2008, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
2007: Billy Joel
Billy Joel and his piano took center stage prior to the start of Super Bowl XLI between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears on February 4, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
2006: Aretha Franlkin & Aaron Neville
When the Super Bowl is in Detroit, Motown must be represented! Aretha Franlkin and Aaron Neville performed ahead of Super Bowl XL between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field on February 5, 2006, in Detroit, Michigan.
2004: Beyoncé
Would the NFL be able to get Beyoncé to sing the national anthem now? Well, they got her in 2004 where she sang prior to the start of Super Bowl XXXVIII between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004 in Houston, Texas.
2003: The Chicks
The Chicks, formerly known as The Dixie Chicks, sang a soulful rendition of the patriotic song before the start of Super Bowl XXXVII between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders on January 26, 2003, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.
2002: Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey took it to the next level by bringin the Boston Pops along with her as a part of the pregame entertainment before Super Bowl XXXVI between the New England Patriots and the St. Louis Rams at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2001: Backstreet Boys
At the height of boy-band mania, the Backstreet Boys performed during the Super Bowl XXXV pregame show at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
2000: Faith Hill
Faith Hill nailed her performance of the national anthem before the start of Super Bowl XXXIV between the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on January 30, 2000.
1999: Cher
Cher rocked the house during the pre-game show for Super Bowl XXXIII between the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida.
1998: Jewel
Jewel looked relaxed singing the national anthem before the start of Super Bowl XXXII between the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.
1997: Luthor Vandross
Luther Vandross shared his silky smooth vocals at the Louisiana Superdome before the start of Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1996: Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams shared her glorious voice before the Dallas Cowboys game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
1994: Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole performed the national anthem in the preshow Super Bowl XXVIII between the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.
1993: Garth Brooks & Marlee Matlin
Country music star Garth Brooks sang and Oscar winner Marlee Matlin signed the national anthem in American Sign Language translation ahead of Super Bowl XXVII between the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills at the Rose Bowl on January 31, 1993, in Pasadena, California.
1992: Harry Connick Jr.
Harry Connick Jr. did a great job singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to Super Bowl XXVI between the Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota January 26, 1992.
1991: Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston‘s interpretation of the national anthem at Tampa Stadium is considered one of the greatest versions ever recorded. She made it available as a charity single to raise funds for soldiers and families of those involved in the Persian Gulf War, just 10 days after the conflict began.
1990: Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” for his hometown crowd in New Orleans, Louisiana where the Denver Broncos played the San Francisco 49ers at the Superdome.
1989: Billy Joel
Billy Joel made his first Super Bowl appearance in Miami, Florida where the Cincinnati Bengals played the San Francisco 49ers.
1987: Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond didn’t sing “Sweet Caroline” believe it or not, he sang the national anthem prior to Super Bowl XXI between the Denver Broncos and New York Giants on January 26, 1987, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
1984: Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to Super Bowl XVIII between the Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Raiders on January 22, 1984, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
1982: Diana Ross
Diana Ross looked very patriotic ahead of singing the national anthem at Super Bowl XVI in Detroit’s Silverdome Stadium.
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