Before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots battle it out in Super Bowl LX, singer Charlie Puth will be center stage at Levi’s Stadium to sing the national anthem.
Puth couldn’t be more excited for the gig. “I applied. I auditioned for it, but I made up my own audition because I’ve always wanted to do it — because I love it musically. It’s the best song. Musically, it’s so special,” he told Rolling Stone last month.
“I actually have always wanted to do this, and I recorded a little demo, just me singing with the Rhodes and sent it to Roc Nation. I’ve been told Jay-Z loved it, and it got to [NFL Commissioner Roger] Goodell and they all said that I could do it.”
GettyCharlie Puth is introduced during the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Press Conference.
One day before his performance, Puth, 34, posted a video on social media with Whitney Houston’s national anthem performance from Super Bowl XXV in 1991, largely considered the best of all time. He posted a video from the field during a rehearsal and wrote, “I am singing the national anthem on Sunday, fully knowing this version exists.”
Singing the “Star Spangled Banner” in front of a sold-out live crowd during what’s predicted to be a record-breaking televised event is an intimidating feat. While some fans watched to clock whether he went over or under 119.5 seconds, viewers filled social media with their review of his performance.
Fans Loved/Hated Charlie Puth’s National Anthem Performance
Viewers are always very critical of artists taking on the job of singing the national anthem. Following the four-time Grammy-nominated singer’s performance, it was a mix of love and hate
One woman posted, “That was the most beautiful national anthem I’ve ever heard,” while one X user asked, “But why does Charlie Puth’s version of the National Anthem at the #SuperBowl sound like an overproduced Christmas song?”
A viewer wrote, “elite national anthem.” Another viewers complained, “National anthem way overproduced this year. There should never be auto tune in a national anthem man.” NESN’s Keagan Stiefel added, “Autotune the national anthem at the super bowl is insane work.”
However, one woman gushed, “Didn’t know what to expect, but I loved how beautifully Charlie Puth sang the national anthem.” One man wrote, “Charlie Puth singing the national anthem like he’s in the Baptist church mixed with a little 80s RnB in there. One of my favorite anthems I heard fr. Whitney still #1 tho 🔥🔥. Great job man.”
Charlie Puth Called the National Anthem ‘The Hardest’ Song to Sing
After the “We Don’t Talk Anymore” singer was officially announced as the Super Bowl performer in November, Puth shared a hilarious video explaining just how difficult it is to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.
He broke down the track by notes like a football coach breaking down a play. “Did you know that one of the most beautiful pieces of music also happens to be the hardest to sing?” he asks.
“Ah, yes, ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ is a piece of music that has extreme vocal range,” he said. “Most hard-to-sing songs span just one octave range, like a low D to a high D, but ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ it goes from a low D to a high D, plus five more notes, all the way up to a very high A.”
National Anthem Performance Draws Strong Reaction at Super Bowl LX