Dolly Parton isn't the only country great living their rock star era. Carrie Underwood's embraced her inner hard rocker lately, donning an edgier look onstage and touring with her idols Guns N' Roses. Underwood's rock 'n' roll dream spilled over into this season's Sunday Night Football (SNF) opening clip, which debuted last night (Sept. 10) ahead of the Dallas Cowboys' 40-0 drubbing of the New York Giants.
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The "surprise new element" promised by NBC plays off Underwood's rockstar way of life when she busts out a drum solo. Though longtime fans weren't caught off guard, it might've shocked those only familiar with her pseudo Joan Jett cover "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night."
Plus, Underwood's sparkly, black bodysuit points to her recent aesthetic change.
Take it away, @carrieunderwood! pic.twitter.com/nqoyMeq2lX
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 11, 2023
Per NBC, the new opener features performance footage from The Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, which hosts Underwood's Reflection Las Vegas residency. In addition, there's "augmented reality highlights displayed across a halo scoreboard."
"We're thrilled to work with Carrie to capture a new vision for this season's show open," shared Tripp Dixon, creative director for the SNF show open,. "It sets the tone for the broadcast and pays tribute to the teams, star players and fans in a fun and dynamic way."
It's Underwood's 11th season as the voice of SNF. Set to the medley of Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You," "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" was sung for SNF's debut season in 2006 by Pink. Country star Faith Hill took over as the voice of the song and the broadcast from 2007-2012. Since then, Underwood has sung it aside from a three-year span, with her belting out her own "Oh, Sunday Night" in 2016 and 2017 and "Game On" in 2018.
