During Sunday night’s Super Bowl, Reba McEntire delivered a memorable and unforgettable rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. Her performance drew cheers from the audience, and viewers at home were also left with goosebumps. Chris Jones, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive lineman, was visibly moved, shedding tears during the emotional moment.
As a three-time Grammy winner, Reba McEntire’s national anthem performance set a splendid tone for the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. The applause was thunderous, and her delivery lived up to the high expectations set by previous performers, such as Chris Stapleton the previous year.
According to Taste of Country, 2024 marked the fourth consecutive year that the NFL selected a country singer to perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
A month before the event, the 68-year-old country star revealed intriguing details about her performance in an interview with CBS Mornings. She mentioned that she accepted the invitation for a specific reason and shared the enthusiastic support of her boyfriend, Rex Linn, a huge football fan.
“I’ve been singing the national anthem in the shower [and] when we get in the car,” said McEntire, emphasizing her diligent preparation for the significant moment.
Expressing her feelings of being “honored beyond words,” Reba told Apple Music host Nadeska Alexis that she saw herself as the representation of the song, expressing pride in singing it for people worldwide who have worked for freedom and peace.
Despite the positive reception, the performance garnered mixed reactions on social media. Some criticized McEntire’s appearance, attributing it to plastic surgery, while others praised her outstanding performance, emphasizing that it captured the essence of how the national anthem should be sung.