Chris Stapleton took the stage at the opening of Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII to sing the national anthem.
Stapleton was joined by Oscar-winning “Coda” actor Troy Kotsur, who performed the national anthem in American Sign Language.
The country music star strummed a black electric guitar while singing a country rendition of the anthem.
Before Stapleton took the stage, “America the Beautiful” was performed by R&B star Babyface.
CHRIS STAPLETON SINGS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM: SMALL-TOWN KENTUCKY BEGINS ON AMERICA’S BIGGEST STAGE
Earlier in the day, Stapleton revealed that the national anthem is not “easy” for musicians to conquer.
“The national anthem is not an easy song for singers. It’s a song that can go wrong as we’ve seen many times in the past,” Stapleton said at a pre-game media event. “But if you’re going to do it, this is the place to do it. I’m going to go out there and play. And play the way I play it.”
The “Tennessee Whiskey” hitmaker has won eight Grammy Awards; 15 CMA Awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year in 2021; and 10 ACM Awards in his career.
Last year’s national anthem singer, Mickey Guyton, left Chris Stapleton a message of support before his performance. (Getty Images)
Country music star Mickey Guyton sang the national anthem for Super Bowl 2022.
“You were made for this moment and I can’t wait to watch,” Guyton wrote on Stapleton’s Instagram before the big game. “Enjoy every minute and don’t forget to breathe.”
The halftime show will be headlined by Rihanna. Super Bowl 2023 marks the first time the musician has performed live in seven years.
Who is Chris Stapleton, singing the national anthem at Super Bowl 2023 ?
Anyway, Chris Stapleton, 44, has won eight Grammy awards, worked with Kenny Chesney, George Strait and many others, and is a renowned singer/songwriter/producer.
Chris Stapleton kicked off the NFL championship game Sunday with a stirring rendition of the national anthem.
The country singer, 44, circled “The Star-Spangled Banner” while playing guitar at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, before the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles took the field to compete for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Stapleton moved several players to tears, in addition to Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.
The pregame also featured “Abbott Elementary” star Sheryl Lee Ralph and R&B hitmaker Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “America the Beautiful” respectively.
Stapleton admitted before the big game that he felt nervous about playing the national anthem.
“It’s [a song] that can go wrong, as we’ve seen many times in the past. I hope it doesn’t happen to me – touch wood,” he joked Thursday at a press conference in Phoenix, Ariz.” But if you do, this is the place to do it.
There’s someone else pretty well known who will be joining him, though…
Who is Troy Kotsur, who will join Chris Stapleton in the sign language interpretation of the national anthem ?
Troy Kotsur is an Academy Award-winning deaf actor. He will provide the sign language interpretation of the National Anthem for Chris Stapleton. He won the Oscar for a hit called CODAce which is awesome and you should definitely go watch it.
Super Bowl 2023
The “Tennessee Whiskey” crooner has a busy year ahead of him, having recently extended his All-American Road Show, which will feature special guests Charley Crockett, Marcus King, Nikki Lane, Margo Price, Allen Stone, Marty Stuart and his fabulous superlatives and The War and the Treaty.
The country singer recently performed at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Chris Stapleton performing at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
The country singer recently performed at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
The tour kicks off March 16 in Houston and travels to U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, Syracuse, NY and Nashville before wrapping up Aug. 25 in Alpharetta, Ga.
Stapleton is the latest artist to be asked to sing the national anthem on Super Bowl Sunday, following in the footsteps of legends like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Billy Joel, Jennifer Hudson and Lady Gaga.
Rihanna is set to headline this year’s halftime show, marking the “We Found Love” singer’s highly anticipated return to music after a multi-year hiatus.