Carrie Underwood faces mixed reactions to new Sunday Night Football anthem

Carrie Underwood has released a new rock-inspired rendition of the ‘Sunday Night Football’ opening theme, sparking mixed reactions from viewers. The 2026 version of ‘Waiting All Day for Sunday Night’ draws inspiration from Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ ‘I Hate Myself for Loving You.’

While some fans appreciated the stylistic shift, others expressed significant criticism on social media platforms like X and Reddit. Some listeners described the new vocal approach negatively, with some commenters suggesting the network should retire Underwood from the role.

Underwood has performed the NFL anthem on NBC since 2013, taking over the position from Faith Hill. Throughout her 14-season tenure, she has experimented with various versions of the theme, including parodies of her own music and original compositions, before returning to the traditional anthem in recent years.