It’s always an iconic beginning to any sporting event here in America, the singing of the national anthem. For the bigger games, big singers come in to do their own rendition of this historic song. There have been a lot of amazing performances, but there have also been a lot of flops. We have heard it in almost every genre by now ,sung in almost every way. It’s a big honor to be given the opportunity to sing the Star Spangled Banner. With such a big stage, these stars try to put their own spin on the stars and stripes, which can go amazingly well, or horribly bad. In our opinion, and to that of many online absolutely buzzing over this, Chris Stapleton absolutely knocked it out of the park with his soulful performance.

Emotions are already on high for players and coaches at the Superbowl, but Stapleton had the players, and most notably the Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni sobbing. There has been a lot of controversy over the national anthem over the years recently. But regardless of the politics, music has the remarkable ability to bring people together. This song is meant to unite all Americans in our pride as one country. But even if you’re not American, you know it’s an iconic song and you can appreciate the beauty of it.

Some backstory on Chris Stapleton.

Chris Stapleton is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who is known for his work in the country and southern rock music genres. He was born on April 15, 1978 in Lexington, Kentucky, and has been active in the music industry since the early 2000s as a songwriter and session musician before launching his solo career. He performed in a few bands too, including the big bluegrass group The SteelDrivers (2008-2010) and rock band The Jompson Brothers. He has released several critically acclaimed albums, including “Traveller,” “From A Room: Volume 1,” and “From A Room: Volume 2,” and has received numerous accolades for his work, including several Grammy Awards, Country Music Association Awards, and Academy of Country Music Awards. He is considered one of the most influential musicians in contemporary country music and is widely regarded as one of the best vocalists of all time. His voice seems to work perfectly with almost any genre. As he’s collaborated with big names like Justin Timberlake (Say Something), Santana (Joy), Sheryl Crow (Tell Me When It’s Over), Pink (Love Me Anyways), Taylor Swift (I Bet You Think About Me), Ed Sheeren and Bruno Mars (BLOW). That’s a wide range of pop genres, further proving that Stapleton’s epic voice can enhance just about any song it’s featured on.

Top National Anthem Performances:

There have been many memorable and impactful renditions of the national anthem throughout history before Stapleton. Some of the most highly regarded performances include:

1. Jimi Hendrix: Jimi Hendrix’s performance of the national anthem at Woodstock in 1969 is considered one of the most memorable and impactful renditions of the song. Hendrix’s guitar skills, combined with his unique interpretation of the song, made for a powerful and unforgettable performance.
2. Whitney Houston: Whitney Houston’s rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 is widely considered one of the best ever performed. Her powerful and soulful voice captivated the entire stadium, and the performance remains one of the most iconic in Super Bowl history.
3. Marvin Gaye: Marvin Gaye’s soulful and jazzy rendition of the national anthem at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game is also highly regarded. Gaye’s unique interpretation of the song, which was performed a cappella, has been widely praised and continues to be remembered as one of the best renditions of the national anthem.
4. Aretha Franklin: Aretha Franklin’s rendition of the national anthem at the 2004 Democratic National Convention is another highly regarded performance. Franklin’s powerful voice, combined with her soulful interpretation of the song, made for a moving and emotional performance.
5. Rosanne Cash: Rosanne Cash’s rendition of the national anthem at the 2003 Country Music Association Awards is widely considered one of the best country music performances of the song. Cash’s powerful vocals, combined with her emotional interpretation of the song, made for a memorable performance that was widely praised by audiences and critics alike.

These are just a few of the many notable renditions of the national anthem. There have been many other talented musicians and singers who have performed the song over the years, each putting their own unique spin on it and making it their own. Now, you have to add Chris Stapleton’s performance at Superbowl LVII to the list. But is it the best performance yet? Personally, I thought the simplicity of it, with the soulfulness to match the emotions of such an emotional song, combined with such an iconic voice, to be the perfect combination. I have to put it near the top of the list along with Hendrix performance at Woodstock.