If you are asking who sings the Sunday Night Football song, the answer is Carrie Underwood. The country superstar has performed the theme, “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” since 2013, and the 2025 season marked her thirteenth straight year as the voice that opens NBC’s biggest game of the week. Before her, the song was sung by Faith Hill and, for one season, by Pink.
For years, those opening notes meant one very specific thing in my house. Drop whatever you are doing, grab a seat, the big game is starting. I could practically sing the whole thing from memory, the build-up, the chorus, the way it lands right as kickoff approaches. And yet one Sunday it hit me that I had never once stopped to think about whose voice I was actually hearing.
So I finally paid attention, and then I went looking into the whole story. It turns out the song has a richer history than I expected, with a rotation of stars, a surprising rock origin, and a yearly reinvention that most fans never notice. This guide covers all of it, from who sings it now to who came before, what the song is called, where it came from, and why it became such a fixture of football culture.
Who Sings the Sunday Night Football Song?
The Current Singer of the Sunday Night Football Theme
The current voice of the Sunday Night Football theme is Carrie Underwood. The eight-time Grammy winner and former American Idol champion took over the opening in 2013 and has owned it ever since. Each week she belts out the song in a glossy, high-production sequence that plays right before NBC’s marquee game, and for many viewers it is as much a part of the night as the game itself.
Her role is more than a quick jingle. Underwood stars in a full opening number, often filmed on an elaborate stage with a live band, cheerleaders, and clips of the two teams about to play. It has become one of the most recognizable musical moments in American sports.
Quick Answer for Fans
To keep it simple, Carrie Underwood has sung the Sunday Night Football theme since 2013. Her run through the 2025 season made it thirteen consecutive years, a remarkable stretch of longevity for any performer tied to a single broadcast. When fans hear the song today, they are hearing her. That kind of staying power is rare in sports broadcasting, where openings and jingles tend to come and go.
What Is the Sunday Night Football Song Called?
“Waiting All Day for Sunday Night”
The official title of the song is “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night.” The name captures exactly what the show is going for, that buzz of anticipation that builds across the day until the night’s headline game finally kicks off. It is designed to get fans excited before a single snap.
What many people do not realize is that the melody is borrowed. The song is a reworked version of Joan Jett’s rock hit “I Hate Myself for Loving You”, with new football-themed lyrics written over that familiar tune. That rock backbone is a big part of why it hits so hard.
How the Lyrics Change Each Season
One clever detail is that the lyrics are not fixed. Each week, the song is tailored to the two teams playing that night, with personalized references woven into the words. NBC also refreshes the whole production every season, so the look and arrangement evolve year to year. Big games and special occasions sometimes get their own tweaks too.
The History of the Sunday Night Football Theme Song
NBC Brings Back Sunday Night Football
The story starts in 2006, when NBC relaunched Sunday Night Football and made it the centerpiece of its week. The network had won the rights to the Sunday prime-time package and wanted the broadcast to feel like a true event, not just another game.
Why NBC Wanted a Signature Theme
A signature song was central to that plan. NBC wanted something fans would instantly connect with the broadcast, a piece of branding that signaled the most important game of the week was about to begin. A catchy, high-energy theme was the perfect way to build excitement before kickoff and set Sunday Night Football apart.
Who Sang the Sunday Night Football Song Before Carrie Underwood?
Pink (2006)
The very first performer was the pop star Pink, who recorded the original version of “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” for the 2006 relaunch. NBC wanted a bold, energetic voice to launch the new era, and Pink delivered exactly that. Her version set the template for everything that followed.
Faith Hill (2007 to 2012)
The next year, country star Faith Hill took over and made the opening her own. She held the role for six seasons, from 2007 through 2012, and her rendition became woven into the fabric of football Sundays. During her tenure the song grew so familiar that it was parodied and referenced across popular television, a sign of just how deep it had sunk into the culture.
Transition to Carrie Underwood
After six years, NBC decided to refresh the opening with a new face, and the role passed to Carrie Underwood in 2013. As with any change to a beloved tradition, fans had opinions, but Underwood quickly won over the audience and settled in for what became a long, defining run.
Carrie Underwood and Sunday Night Football
How Carrie Underwood Got the Job
Underwood was a natural fit. By 2013 she was one of the biggest names in music, with crossover appeal that reached well beyond country fans. Her powerful voice and broad popularity made her an easy choice to carry a song built on a rock anthem and aimed at a massive prime-time audience.
Evolution of Her Opening Performances
Her openings have grown more ambitious over time. The production quality has climbed each year, with bigger stages, sharper visual effects, and new themes built around the season’s storylines. She has even reinvented the song itself on occasion, performing a version called “Oh, Sunday Night” drawn from her duet “Somethin’ Bad,” and an original tune called “Game On,” before returning to the classic.
Milestone Seasons
A few seasons stand out. In 2019, for the NFL’s hundredth anniversary, Underwood went back to “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” and invited Joan Jett herself to appear in the opening, a nod to the song’s roots. Reaching thirteen straight seasons through 2025 cemented her as the longest-tenured performer the theme has ever had, and each year’s opener has become a small event that fans look forward to before the season even begins.
How the Sunday Night Football Opening Is Created
Recording the Theme Song
Each year’s version begins in the studio. Underwood records the vocals over the established melody, and producers shape the arrangement to fit the season’s tone, whether that means a high-energy chorus or, in one case, a slower and dreamier take. The audio is polished and edited before any cameras roll.
Filming the Opening Sequence
The visual side is a full production. Filming involves elaborate stages, costumes, lighting, and effects, along with behind-the-scenes touches like shots of Underwood in hair and makeup before she walks out to perform. Game footage of the featured teams is then mixed in to tie the song to that night’s matchup.
Annual Updates
NBC deliberately reinvents the intro every season rather than reusing old footage. The team treats it as a fresh creative challenge each year, updating the look and weaving in current NFL storylines. That commitment to change is a big reason the opening still feels new after two decades.
Why “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” Became So Popular
Catchy Lyrics and Familiar Melody
Part of the appeal is simply that the song is built to stick. Riding on Joan Jett’s rock melody, it has an instantly hummable chorus and an energy that suits the drama of prime-time football. Rock fans recognize the tune, and everyone else just finds it impossible to forget.
NFL Tradition
Beyond the music, the song has become a weekly ritual. For millions of fans, hearing it is the official signal that the night’s big game is here, a shared cue that pulls everyone toward the screen. If you want to watch Sunday Night Football yourself, that opening is the moment the whole evening clicks into place.
Cultural Impact
The theme has also crossed over into the wider culture. It has been parodied on sketch comedy and referenced in hit television shows, the kind of attention few broadcast jingles ever earn. That reach is proof of how firmly the song has lodged itself in the public ear.
Has the Sunday Night Football Theme Ever Changed?
Major Changes Through the Years
The theme has changed in real ways over the years. Three different performers have sung it, the arrangements have been remixed season after season, and Underwood has even swapped in alternate songs for a couple of years before circling back. No two seasons sound exactly alike.
What Stayed the Same
Yet the core has held steady. The central melody, rooted in that Joan Jett hit, remains the anchor, and the signature phrase “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” is the constant fans listen for. Through every change, the heart of the song has stayed recognizable.
Fan Reactions to Changes
Reactions have been mixed whenever something shifts. Some fans love the yearly reinvention and the surprise of a new look, while others miss older versions and prefer the classic arrangement. The debate itself shows how much people care about the song.
Comparing Sunday Night Football’s Theme to Other NFL Broadcast Songs
Sunday Night Football vs Monday Night Football
The Sunday Night Football theme is not the only famous NFL broadcast song. Monday Night Football has its own long musical tradition, with a country-flavored opening that fans of that broadcast know just as well. Each anthem has carved out its own identity tied to its night.
Sunday Night Football vs Thursday Night Football
Thursday Night Football, which has moved between networks and streaming in recent years, has leaned on a different production style and branding. Its presentation reflects a newer, more modern broadcast era, and its musical identity has not had the same time to settle in.
Which NFL Theme Is Most Popular?
In terms of recognition, the Sunday Night Football theme is arguably the most popular of them all. Its longevity, its star performers, and its cultural footprint give it a reach that the others struggle to match. For many fans, it is the sound of NFL prime time.
Interesting Facts About the Sunday Night Football Song
The Song’s Rock Music Origins
The most surprising fact for many fans is that the theme is built on a rock song. Joan Jett’s hit provided the melody, which is why a country singer ends up belting out something with such a hard, driving feel.
Carrie Underwood’s Long Tenure
Underwood’s run is historic in its own right. Thirteen consecutive seasons through 2025 make her by far the longest-serving voice of the opening, well beyond Faith Hill’s six years and Pink’s single season.
Special Edition Openings
The song also gets special treatment for big occasions. Season openers, holiday games, and milestone events have all inspired unique versions over the years, giving the opening an extra sense of occasion when it matters most.
Hidden Details Fans May Miss
Finally, there are small touches that reward close watching. The personalized lyrics name the two teams playing that night, and the visuals often include nods to the matchup that casual viewers breeze right past. Once you know to look, the opening is full of little details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sings the Sunday Night Football song now?
Carrie Underwood sings it. She has performed the theme since 2013 and most recently opened her thirteenth straight season in 2025.
Did Faith Hill sing the Sunday Night Football theme?
Yes. Faith Hill sang the opening for six seasons, from 2007 through 2012, before Carrie Underwood took over.
What is the Sunday Night Football song called?
It is called “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night.”
Is the song based on another song?
Yes. It is a reworked version of Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” with new football-themed lyrics.
When did Carrie Underwood start singing it?
She started in 2013 and has performed it every season since.
Why did NBC replace Faith Hill?
After six seasons, NBC chose to refresh the opening with a new performer and handed the role to Carrie Underwood for the 2013 season.
Does NBC change the intro every season?
Yes. NBC reinvents the production each year and tailors the lyrics to the two teams playing in each week’s game.
Who wrote the Sunday Night Football song?
The melody comes from Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” with new lyrics written for the football opening over that original tune.
Conclusion
So when someone asks who sings the Sunday Night Football song, you can answer with confidence. It is Carrie Underwood, who has delivered “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” since 2013 and reached her thirteenth season in 2025, following Faith Hill’s six years and Pink’s original 2006 version.
What makes the theme special is everything wrapped around that simple answer. It is a rock anthem in disguise, reinvented every season, personalized for each matchup, and tied to a weekly ritual that millions of fans share.
That mix of consistency and reinvention is why the song has lasted two decades and still feels like the official start of football’s biggest night. The next time those opening notes hit, you will know exactly whose voice is welcoming you to Sunday night.
