Brandi Carlile out Lesbian songwriter, producer, and activist known for music that spans folk rock, alternative country, Americana, and classic rock chosen to sing America the Beautiful at this years super bowl.

Country music is back at the Super Bowl. Vocal powerhouse Brandi Carlile will perform “America the Beautiful” ahead of the Feb. 8 game in Santa Clara, Calif.

She is one of three pre-game performers announced by the NFL this week.

Super Bowl XL airs on NBC on Feb. 8, 2026. Bad Bunny is going to perform at halftime.
Until last year, country music stars had been asked to sing the National Anthem four straight years.
The game happens one week after the Grammys, where Carlile is nominated for two awards.

Who’s Singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl?

In 2026, Charlie Puth will sing the National Anthem. He follows last year’s memorable performance from Jon Batiste. Before that it was ffour straight country stars.

Eric Church, Mickey Guyton, Chris Stapleton and Reba McEntire performed the National Anthem from 2021 to 2024 with Stapleton’s considered to be among the best ever. Luke Bryan (2017), Carrie Underwood (2010) and the Chicks (2003) are three more who’ve had the honor.

Greogry Shamus, Getty Images

Country Singers at the Super Bowl

For the most part, country singers have been siloed into the pre-game over the last 30 years. Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert (2012) are the last to sing “America the Beautiful” but Faith Hill also had the honor in 2009. This song hasn’t always been performed, but along with the Anthem and “Live Every Voice and Sing” (performed by Coco Jones in 2026) it’s been a tradition for years.

The genre has been shut out of the halftime show since 2003 when Shania Twain joined No Doubt. The last country-led halftime show was in 1994 but it’s not for lack of star power.

In fact, earlier this year, Taste of Country put together a list of 15 stars we think would be perfect for the Super Bowl halftime show, which you can check out below.

15 Country Artists Primed to Headline a Super Bowl Halftime Show

Any way you slice it, country music is long overdue for its time in the spotlight at the Super Bowl. Although several artists have sung the National Anthem at the game, the coveted halftime show has been anything but country for over three decades.

The last time anyone from the genre headlined the performance was in 1994, when Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna Judd and Naomi Judd did a medley of their biggest hits. With country music gaining in popularity, there’s no better time than now to put one of our own in the spotlight. Here are 15 artists who are already primed to take on the task.

Gallery Credit: Jess

Lainey Wilson

Terry Wyatt, Getty Images

Lainey Wilson

There are few artists who can command a stage like Lainey Wilson. If you’ve seen her perform live, you know she visits every piece of that platform, giving everyone in the audience the best she has. Wilson was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 2023, so she’s very familiar with putting on a great show. In addition, she commanded the stage during the Dallas Cowboys’ halftime show on Thanksgiving Day in 2024. The “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” singer has several collaborations with many artists who could make for some incredible guest appearances.

Blake Shelton

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Blake Shelton

Fans of country music have loved Blake Shelton for decades. He has some beer-drinking songs in addition to some rockin’ anthems that he could pull out, which would delight both country and non-country viewers. Shelton has become quite popular across the country after his long stint as a coach on The Voice, making him a great choice to entertain on such a big stage. Plus, a Gwen Stefani cameo is pretty much a given.

Luke Combs

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Luke Combs

After a successful world tour in 2023, Luke Combs certainly knows how to fill a stadium anywhere on the globe. And with back-to-back CMA Entertainer of the Year trophies, the “Where the Wild Things Are” singer will put the “entertain” in Super Bowl halftime entertainment. Combs has a large catalog of foot-stompin’, beer-drinkin’ songs that are sure to be a hit with any football fan. He also has NFL halftime experience under his belt, as he took on the mid-game festivities at the 2021 Thanksgiving matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders.

Shania Twain

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Shania Twain

Shania Twain went from fearing she would never sing again, to absolutely dominating her career. She underwent vocal surgery in the early 2000s after her Lyme disease diagnosis, but it hasn’t held her back. Twain can pull out some old favorites that were crossover hits early in her career and combine them with her newer material. Plus, if you’ve seen one of her Vegas residency shows or one of her Queen of Me Tour dates, you know the woman puts on a spectacular show.

Luke Bryan

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Luke Bryan

Luke Bryan would be a perfect fit to execute a rocking Super Bowl halftime performance. The man has been crowned Entertainer of the Year multiple times, and he knows how to put on a good show. For the doubters out there, just take one look at his curated Crash My Playa Festival in Mexico. He could easily bring those tequila-laced vibes with him to the field. Bryan has also garnered national appeal outside of country music as a judge on American Idol. Did we mention he sang the National Anthem for the Super Bowl in 2017? He’s a shoo-in.

Darius Rucker

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Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker is a stellar candidate for the Super Bowl halftime show because of his wide appeal to different music lovers. The singer began his career as the lead singer of the band Hootie & the Blowfish before making the jump to country music as a solo artist in 2008. He’s produced several successful albums and has some of the most catchy songs that fans can sing along too. Rucker could also pull some big collaborators out of his rolodex to perform on stage with him. It’s a win-win for the NFL’s biggest game.

Carrie Underwood

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Carrie Underwood

After winning season four of American Idol and releasing a handful of crossover hits, it’s safe to say Carrie Underwood has mass appeal. And while she’s dominated country music for decades, she has released some non-country albums, including a Christmas album and a gospel record. Underwood has also made a name for herself in the world of rock ‘n’ roll after performing with Axl Rose and opening for Guns N’ Roses in 2023. It wouldn’t be surprising for her to bring him out for another round of show-stopping collaborations.

Kenny Chesney

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Kenny Chesney

Kenny’s Chesney’s music has been adored by country music fans for years. His easy-breezy island themes would make for an enjoyable show for viewers everywhere. Chesney has an extensive catalog of music, with 32 No. 1 hits spanning 20 albums. He’s one of those names that’s recognized all over the globe — especially those places with picturesque beaches. It also doesn’t hurt that Chesney is a big football fan.

Reba McEntire

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Reba McEntire

McEntire has been a beloved country singer for decades. With her tenured career in in the genre, she is sure to delight an audience of all ages and could possibly bring a few of her friends to join her on stage. She has also become a household name with her projects outside of music. In addition to her television show Reba, McEntire has acted in several other projects — like her new show Happy’s Place on NBC — and most recently joined the coaches panel for Season 24 of The Voice. This would be an ideal marketing ploy for McEntire the next time NBC airs the NFL’s biggest game.

Tim McGraw

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Tim McGraw

There’s just something about Tim McGraw and football, isn’t there? Not only is he a self-proclaimed football fan, but he has a few songs that are perfect for a football tailgate party. Now picture that tailgate party in the stadium on a much larger stage with all the lights. McGraw could dig up several of his hits from over the years to delight a variety of fans. He could also call up a country pal or two to join him on stage, including his wife, Faith Hill. She’s a perfect fit, given she used to perform the Sunday Night Football opening theme song on NBC.

Morgan Wallen

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Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen proved his mass appeal during his multi-year One Night at a Time Tour. The country singer has entertained audiences across the globe with his music and could easily get a Super Bowl crowd on their feet. Wallen has out-of-format appeal, as he sat on top of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for multiple weeks in 2023 with his song “Last Night.” With 82 songs divided among his three albums, he’s got lots of music to choose from, with plenty of raucous singalong tracks.

George Strait

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George Strait

The King of Country Music. How can anyone not enjoy a performance from George Strait? The man is a living legend, and surely has the mass appeal the Super Bowl is looking for. Strait could deliver a solid show jam-packed with No. 1 hits that anyone could sing along with, and he wouldn’t even have to try. Honestly, it’s a travesty the man hasn’t played the NFL’s biggest game.

Dolly Parton

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Dolly Parton

It’s hard to find something Dolly Parton isn’t doing these days. In addition to her extensive list of albums, merchandise, collaborations and philanthropic efforts, the country veteran hosted the ACM Awards three years in a row. She is a beloved figure both in and out of country music, and in 2023, she dropped a rock album that topped Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative chart. Parton has extensive experience on stages all over the globe, and she headlined the halftime show for the 2023 Thanksgiving matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders.

Garth Brooks

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Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks is a natural entertainer whose tours consistently sell out stadiums worldwide. The country veteran could draw in a global audience of all ages with his vast catalog of iconic hits. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t know the chorus to “Friends in Low Places.” Not to mention, Garth has a hefty rolodex of country music contacts that could put several other big names on stage with him.

Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift

Name a bigger name in the universe right now. Go ahead, we’ll wait. If Taylor Swift was famous before, her popularity has exploded in the last few years, as seen with her Eras Tour. And now that she’s dating Travis Kelce, a Super Bowl winner, the scenario feels almost poetic … especially if Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in a future game. There have been rumors about Swift doing the show, and it’s a very real possibility this former country starlet could be taking the stage sooner rather than later.

See the Most Played Country Song from the Year You Were Born

Who had the most played country song during the year you were born? This list is a fascinating time capsule of prevalent trends from every decade in American history. Scroll through to find your birth year and then click to listen. Some of these songs have been lost through the years, many of them for good reason!

Men named Hank dominated early before stars like Freddie Hart, Ronnie Milsap, Willie Nelson Clint Black took over to close the 1980s. More recently it’s been Tim Mcgraw, Rodney Atkins, Kane Brown and Morgan Wallen. Did the most-played country song from the year you were born become a favorite of yours later? All info comes from Billboard‘s country airplay charts.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

Cover of Nate Smiths album

RCA Nashville

2024: Nate Smith, “World On Fire”

Nate Smith’s “World On Fire” was the No. 1 song on country radio for all of January and all of February 2024. Even as a Gold record, it earned significant airplay. This competition wasn’t even close as the No. 2 song of the year (“I Had Some Help” by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen) trailed by nearly 100 million audience impressions.

Cover of Morgan Wallens One Thing at a Time Album

Big Loud

2023: Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”

Morgan Wallen, Tim McGraw and Hank Williams are the only three artists to have the most-played song on country radio in three separate years. “Last Night” dominated in 2023 with a full 15 percent more spins than the No. 2 song.

2022: Parmalee, Take My Name

Stoney Creek Records

2022: Parmalee, “Take My Name”

Parmalee had one of the most-played country songs on the radio in three consecutive years. “Take My Name” topped the list in 2022. It’s arguably the group’s biggest hit.

2021: Chris Young + Kane Brown, Famous Friends

RCA

2021: Chris Young + Kane Brown, “Famous Friends”

2020: Morgan Wallen, Chasin You

Big Loud Records

2020: Morgan Wallen, “Chasin’ You”

2019: Morgan Wallen, Whiskey Glasses

Big Loud Records

2019: Morgan Wallen, “Whiskey Glasses”

2018: Kane Brown, Heaven

RCA

2018: Kane Brown, “Heaven”

2017: Sam Hunt, Body Like a Back Road

MCA Nashville

2017: Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road”

2016: Jon Pardi, Head Over Boots

Capitol Nashville

2016: Jon Pardi, “Head Over Boots”

2015: Lee Brice, Drinking Class

Curb

2015: Lee Brice, “Drinking Class”

2014: Brett Eldredge, Beat of the Music

Atlantic Nashville

2014: Brett Eldredge, “Beat of the Music”

2013: Billy Currington, Hey Girl

Mercury Nashville

2013: Billy Currington, “Hey Girl”

2012: Josh Turner, Time Is Love

MCA Nashville

2012: Josh Turner, “Time Is Love”

2011: Eli Young Band, Crazy Girl

Republic Nashville

2011: Eli Young Band, “Crazy Girl”

2010: Lee Brice, Love Like Crazy

Curb

2010: Lee Brice, “Love Like Crazy”

2009: Lady A, I Run To You

Capitol Nashville

2009: Lady A, “I Run To You”

2008: James Otto, Just Got Started Loving You

Warner Bros. Nashville

2008: James Otto, “Just Got Started Loving You”

2007: Rodney Atkins, Watching You

Curb Nashville

2007: Rodney Atkins, “Watching You’

2006: Rodney Atkins, If Youre Going Through Hell

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

2006: Rodney Atkins, “If You’re Going Through Hell”

2005: Craig Morgan, Thats What I Love About Sunday

Broken Bow Records

2005: Craig Morgan, “That’s What I Love About Sunday

2004: Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dying

Curb Records

2004: Tim McGraw, “Live Like You Were Dying”

2003: Lonestar, My Front Porch Looking In

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

2003: Lonestar, “My Front Porch Looking In”

2002: Kenny Chesney, The Good Stuff

Vince Bucci, Getty Images

2002: Kenny Chesney, “The Good Stuff”

2001: Brooks & Dunn, Aint Nothing Bout You

Arista Nashville

2001: Brooks & Dunn, “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You”

2000: Toby Keith, How Do You Like Me Now?

Dreamwork

2000: Toby Keith, “How Do You Like Me Now?”

1999: Lonestar, Amazed

BNA

1999: Lonestar, “Amazed”

1998: Tim McGraw, Just To See You Smile

Curb

1998: Tim McGraw, “Just To See You Smile”

1997: Tim McGraw + Faith Hill, Its Your Love

Curb

1997: Tim McGraw + Faith Hill, “It’s Your Love”

1996: Brooks & Dunn, My Maria

Arista

1996: Brooks & Dunn, “My Maria”

1995: John Michael Montgomery, Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)

Atlantic

1995: John Michael Montgomery, “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)”

1994: John Michael Montgomery, I Swear

Atlantic

1994: John Michael Montgomery, “I Swear”

1993: Alan Jackson, Chattahoochee

Arista

1993: Alan Jackson, “Chattahoochee”

1992: Wynonna, I Saw the Light

Curb

1992: Wynonna, “I Saw the Light”

1991: Alan Jackson, Dont Rock the Jukebox

Arista

1991: Alan Jackson, “Don’t Rock the Jukebox”

1990: Clint Black, Nobodys Home

RCA

1990: Clint Black, “Nobody’s Home”

1989: Clint Black, Better Man

RCA

1989: Clint Black, “Better Man”

1988: Keith Whitley, Dont Close Your Eyes

RCA

1988: Keith Whitley, “Don’t Close Your Eyes”

1987: Michael Johnson, Give Me Wings

RCA

1987: Michael Johnson, “Give Me Wings”

1986: Rosanne Cash, Never Be You

Columbia

1986: Rosanne Cash, “Never Be You”

1985: Ronnie Milsap, Lost In the Fifties Tonight

RCA

1985: Ronnie Milsap, “Lost In the Fifties Tonight”

1984: Julio Iglesias + Willie Nelson, To All the Girls Ive Loved Before

Columbia

1984: Julio Iglesias + Willie Nelson, “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before”

1983: Shelly West, Jose Cuervo

Viva

1983: Shelly West, “Jose Cuervo”

1982: Willie Nelson, Always On My Mind

Columbia

1982: Willie Nelson, “Always On My Mind”

1981: Earl Thomas Conley, Fire and Smoke

RCA

1981: Earl Thomas Conley, “Fire and Smoke

1980: Ronnie Milsap, My Heart

RCA

1980: Ronnie Milsap, “My Heart”

1979: Anne Murray, I Just Fall In Love Again

Capitol

1979: Anne Murray, “I Just Fall In Love Again”

1978: Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, Mammas Dont Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys

RCA

1978: Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”

1977: Waylon Jennings, Luckenbach, Texas (Back To the Basics of Love)

RCA

1977: Waylon Jennings, “Luckenbach, Texas (Back To the Basics of Love)”

1976: C.W. McCall, Convoy

Polydor Records

1976: C.W. McCall, “Convoy”

1975: Glen Campbell, Rhinestone Cowboy

Capitol

1975: Glen Campbell, “Rhinestone Cowboy”

1974: Charlie Rich, There Wont Be Anymore

RCA

1974: Charlie Rich, “There Won’t Be Anymore”

1973: Conway Twitty, Youve Never Been This Far Before

MCA

1973: Conway Twitty, “You’ve Never Been This Far Before”

1972: Freddie Hart, My Hang-Up Is You

Capitol

1972: Freddie Hart, “My Hang-Up Is You”

1971: Freddie Hart, Easy Loving

Capitol Records

1971: Freddie Hart, “Easy Loving”

1970: Conway Twitty, Hello Darlin

Decca

1970: Conway Twitty, “Hello Darlin’”

1969: Bill Anderson, My Life (Throw It Away If You Want To)

Decca

1969: Bill Anderson, “My Life (Throw It Away If You Want To)”

1968: Johnny Cash, Folsom Prison Blues

Sun

1968: Johnny Cash, “Folsom Prison Blues”

1967: Jack Greene, All the Time

Decca

1967: Jack Greene, “All the Time”

1966: David Houston, Almost Persuaded

Epic

1966: David Houston, “Almost Persuaded”

1965: Eddy Arnold, Whats He Doing In My World

RCA

1965: Eddy Arnold, “What’s He Doing In My World”

1964: Buck Owens, My Heart Skips a Beat

Capitol

1964: Buck Owens, “My Heart Skips a Beat”

1963: Bill Anderson, Still

Decca

1963: Bill Anderson, “Still”

1962: Claude King, Wolverton Mountain

Columbia

1962: Claude King, “Wolverton Mountain”

1961: Patsy Cline, I Fall To Pieces

Decca

1961: Patsy Cline, “I Fall To Pieces”

1960: Hank Locklin, Please Help Me Im Falling

RCA Victor

1960: Hank Locklin, “Please Help Me I’m Falling”

1959: Johnny Horton, The Battle of New Orleans

Columbia

1959: Johnny Horton, “The Battle of New Orleans”

1958: Don Gibson, Oh Lonesome Me / I Cant Stop Loving You

RCA Victor

1958: Don Gibson, “Oh Lonesome Me / I Can’t Stop Loving You”

1957: Ferlin Husky, Gone

Capitol

1957: Ferlin Husky, “Gone”

1956: Ray Price, Crazy Arms

Columbia

1956: Ray Price, “Crazy Arms”

1955: Webb Pierce, In the Jailhouse Now

Decca

1955: Webb Pierce, “In the Jailhouse Now”

1954: Hank Snow, I Dont Hurt Anymore

RCA

1954: Hank Snow, “I Don’t Hurt Anymore”

1953: Hank Williams, Kaw-Liga

MGM Records

1953: Hank Williams, “Kaw-Liga”

1952: HankThompson, Wild Side of Life

Capitol

1952: HankThompson, “Wild Side of Life”

1951: Hank Williams, Cold, Cold Heart

MGM Records

1951: Hank Williams, “Cold, Cold Heart”

1950: Hank Snow, Im Movin On

RCA Victor

1950: Hank Snow, “I’m Movin’ On”

1949: Hank Williams, Lovesick Blues

MGM Records

1949: Hank Williams, “Lovesick Blues”

1948: Eddy Arnold, Bouguet of Roses

RCA Victor

1948: Eddy Arnold, “Bouguet of Roses”

1947: Tex Williams, Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)

Capitol

1947: Tex Williams, “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)”

1946: Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, New Spanish Two Step

Columbia

1946: Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, “New Spanish Two Step”

 

Read More: Brandi Carlile: America the Beautiful Singer at Super Bowl 2026 | https://tasteofcountry.com/brandi-carlile-america-the-beautiful-super-bowl-lx/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral