It is 8:15 PM on a Sunday in mid-November. The snacks are out, the fantasy scores are looking bleak, and suddenly, those drums kick in. You know the ones. Then comes that voice—the kind of powerhouse vocal that feels like it could physically push a linebacker over. For 13 straight seasons, Carrie Underwood on Sunday Night Football has been the unofficial signal that the weekend is over and the "real" game is beginning.
But honestly, it's kinda wild when you think about it. In a world where TV trends die in six months, how has a country singer from Oklahoma held onto the most coveted 90 seconds in sports broadcasting since 2013?
Some fans are obsessed. Others, usually on X (formerly Twitter), love to complain that it’s time for a change. Yet, every September, there she is, walking out of a CGI tunnel or rocking a stage in Las Vegas.
The Paycheck That Broke the Internet
Let’s get the elephant out of the room first. Every year, around Week 3 or 4, a "report" goes viral claiming Carrie Underwood makes $1 million per week for the intro.
If you do the math, with an 18-week regular season, that’s an $18 million bag for what looks like a few minutes of singing. People lose their minds over this. I’ve seen comments like "I’d sing it for a twenty and a burger."
Here is the nuance most people miss: NBC doesn't just pay for a song. They pay for the brand. Carrie Underwood isn't just a singer; she’s a massive crossover bridge between Nashville and the NFL. While $1 million per week is the widely circulated figure, it’s worth noting that this includes more than just showing up.
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She has to record custom lyrics for every single possible team matchup. Think about the logistics. She’s in the booth singing "The Ravens and the Bills are ready to fight" and then five minutes later "The Cowboys and the Eagles are ready to fight." It’s a massive production effort that usually takes place over a single intensive filming day, often at places like the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas.
13 Years of "Waiting All Day"
Believe it or not, Carrie wasn't the first. The SNF tradition actually started with Pink back in 2006. She did one year before Faith Hill took the reins for a six-season run that ended in 2012.
When Carrie took over in 2013, she inherited "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night," which is basically a football-themed cover of Joan Jett’s "I Hate Myself for Loving You."
The Experimental Years
She didn't always stick to the script, though. There was a period where things got... experimental.
- 2016-2017: She swapped the Joan Jett vibe for "Oh, Sunday Night," which was a remix of her hit "Somethin' Bad."
- 2018: She introduced "Game On," an original track. This one actually caused some legal headaches when a songwriter named Heidi Merrill filed a lawsuit claiming copyright infringement. The suit was eventually dropped, but the song didn't stick.
- 2019-Present: NBC went back to the classics. They realized fans just wanted the "Waiting All Day" nostalgia.
In 2019, they even brought out Joan Jett herself to perform alongside Carrie, which was a pretty legendary "full circle" moment for the broadcast.
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Why She’s Actually Unreplaceable
You’ve probably heard people say, "Why don't they get a rapper?" or "Why not a modern pop star?"
The reality is that Carrie Underwood on Sunday Night Football works because of the "Middle America" demographic that still dominates live TV ratings. She has a 95% name recognition factor. She doesn't have scandals. She hits every note perfectly.
From a technical standpoint, the 2025-2026 season intro has been described by Creative Director Tripp Dixon as a "reimagining" of the anthem. They’ve leaned heavily into behind-the-scenes "roadshow" vibes, trying to make the intro feel more like a live concert and less like a canned commercial.
The Logistics of a 90-Second Intro
One thing that really impresses me is how they handle the flexibility. NFL schedules are flexible. A game that looked great in August might be a total dud by November, so the "Flex Scheduling" means the teams in the intro might change with only a few days' notice.
Carrie records every possible combination of teams during her summer filming session. She has to maintain the same energy and tone for dozens of different takes so the editors can swap them out seamlessly. It’s a marathon of vocal stamina.
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Is There "Carrie Fatigue"?
Look, 13 years is a long time. In 2025, social media was louder than ever with people asking for a refresh. Some fans want someone "more relevant" to the current charts.
But when you look at the ratings, Sunday Night Football remains the #1 show in primetime. NBC is a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" kind of company. Carrie brings a level of "event" feel to the broadcast that is hard to replicate. Whether you love the song or mute the TV until kickoff, you can't deny she’s become as much a part of the NFL Sunday ritual as the yellow first-down line.
Actionable Insights for the Superfan
If you're following the SNF season, here are a few things to keep an eye on regarding the production:
- Check the Background: Each week, the "fan" shots in the intro are often updated or tailored to the specific cities playing.
- Vocal Tweaks: Listen closely to the ad-libs at the end of the song. Carrie often changes the "growls" or high notes to keep the recording from feeling stale over an 18-week stretch.
- The Fashion Factor: Carrie's outfits in the intro are a major talking point in the country music fashion world. She usually works with top-tier designers to create a look that is "athletic but glam."
The 2026 season will likely see another evolution of the tech used in the shoot—expect more augmented reality and "mixed reality" elements where it looks like she’s standing right on the turf of whatever stadium is hosting the game.
Whether you're there for the football or the high notes, Carrie isn't going anywhere yet. She’s locked in as the voice of the NFL's biggest night, and honestly, Sunday nights would feel a little too quiet without her.