The U.S. national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" has been performed at all but one Super Bowl since its first year in 1967; Vikki Carr sang "America the Beautiful" in place of the anthem at Super Bowl XI in 1977. Since Super Bowl XVI in 1982 (except 1985 and 2005), famous singers or music groups have performed the anthem at the vast majority of Super Bowl games and was accompanied by an American Sign Language (ASL) performer since Super Bowl XXVI in 1992.
Beginning with Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, "America the Beautiful" is sung before the national anthem every year and is followed by the presentation of the colors and a military flyover preceded the anthem. Beginning in 2021, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was sung prior to "America the Beautiful" and the national anthem in honor of Black History Month. Some early Super Bowls featured marching bands performing the anthem and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Celine Dion sang "God Bless America" in place of "America the Beautiful" at Super Bowl XXXVII.
The performance by Whitney Houston at Super Bowl XXV in 1991, during the Gulf War, has been for many years regarded as one of the best renditions ever. It was released as a single a few weeks later, appeared on the album ', and was re-released as a single in 2001 shortly after the September 11 attacks.
The 1992 performance marked the first time American Sign Language was used alongside the lead singer.
Faith Hill performed the anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. Following the September 11 attacks, her version entered the Hot Country Songs chart at number 35.
Since 1993, the NFL has required performers to supply a backup track during the national anthem, America the Beautiful, and Lift Every Voice and Sing to ensure audio quality and prevent performance glitches due to factors like weather, loud crowds, or technical issues. This came after Garth Brooks walked out of the stadium prior to his XXVII performance. Only 45 minutes before kickoff, he refused to take the stage, due to a dispute with NBC. Brooks requested that the network premiere the music video for his new single "We Shall Be Free" during the pregame. The network chose not to air the video, due to content some felt was disturbing imagery. Brooks had also refused to pre-record the anthem, which meant the league had nothing to play if he left. Television producers spotted Jon Bon Jovi in the grandstands, and were prepared to use him as a replacement. After last-minute negotiations, NBC agreed to air a clip of the video during the broadcast of the game, and Brooks was coaxed back into the stadium and sang.
Following the "wardrobe malfunction" controversy during Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, all scheduled performers for Super Bowl XXXIX were chosen under heavy scrutiny. Game organizers decided not to use a popular music vocalist. The combined choirs of the U.S. Military Academy, the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets were invited to perform. This was the first time since the second inauguration of President Richard Nixon in 1973 that all four service academies sang together.
Two days after Super Bowl XLIII, it was revealed that Jennifer Hudson also had lip synced.
At the beginning of Super Bowl XLV, Christina Aguilera sang the lyrics incorrectly. Instead of singing "O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming", the pop star sang "What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming". According to the New York Times, she also changed "gleaming" to "reaming".
In recent years, the national anthem has been followed by a flyover of the stadium by a group of military aircraft. The first time this happened was Super Bowl VI with a group of F-4 Phantoms from the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Elgin Air Force Base for fallen military members during the Vietnam War. The practice wouldn't become a regular tradition until Super Bowl XIX and of course would be missed over several of the next games because they were held indoors. Both the USAF Thunderbirds (six) and the Navy Blue Angels (three) have been regular performers of the flyovers.
The Super Bowl XLV flyover by Navy F/A-18 Hornets from Naval Air Station Oceana was criticized as too expensive due to the existence of a naval air station in Fort Worth, Texas. And the flyovers have been criticized in general as promoting militarism and war.
The flyovers have also been praised for promoting history during Super Bowl LII where a World War II era P-51 Mustang flew with modern USAF jets. And at Super Bowl LVII, the Navy flyover consisted of all female pilots, honoring the 50th anniversary of the first female navy pilot.
The following Super Bowls featured other patriotic performances besides the national anthem. Since 2009, "America the Beautiful" is sung before the national anthem.
Acts that have performed three times:
Acts that have performed two times:
Acts that performed in or near their hometown metropolitan area: