Carrie Underwood is returning for another season of Sunday Night Football, but not everyone is celebrating the news. NBC recently unveiled a refreshed version of its iconic opening.
While the singer is excited about the update, some NFL fans are calling for a new face. The new opening marks another milestone for Underwood, who has fronted NBC’s football anthem for more than a decade.
Carrie Underwood is back for a 14th Sunday Night Football season, but some fans say it’s time for NBC to move on
People reported that Underwood will appear in NBC’s Sunday Night Football show open for the 14th consecutive season. The new version debuts Sept. 13 before the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Giants.
“This year’s show open welcomes Sunday Night Football into my ongoing rock star fever dream,” Underwood said in a press release. She added that the updated production is “one of my most favorite opens yet.”
This year’s opening leans into Underwood’s love of rock music. It features scenes inside a recording studio, a small music venue, and a packed stadium. Creative director Tripp Dixon said the concept was inspired by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” That serves as the basis for the Sunday Night Football anthem.
While NBC is embracing the new direction, some viewers aren’t convinced. Following the announcement, several fans took to social media to argue that the network should replace Underwood after 14 seasons.
According to Blast, one fan wrote that a “different performer would be a nice change of pace.” While another suggested, “Time for someone new. I nominate Lainey Wilson.” A fan also added, “I like Carrie. I do, I just think it’s time to bring in a testosterone-driven music act to match the adrenaline boost of excitement that comes with most NFL hardcore fans getting ready to watch football on Sunday night.”
Despite the criticism, Underwood remains the face of Sunday Night Football. A preview of the revamped opening will air during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 before its full debut in September.
The singer has performed the show’s opening since 2013, making her one of the longest-running fixtures of NBC’s NFL coverage. Whether the latest rock-inspired update changes fans’ opinions remains to be seen when football returns this fall.
TELL US: DO YOU THINK NBC SHOULD KEEP CARRIE UNDERWOOD AS THE FACE OF SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, OR IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE?
