Chris Stapleton

Plus everything you need to know about the pre-game concert.

Stapleton is the first male solo artist to sing the anthem since Luke Bryan in 2017. [ Stapleton performed the anthem on Sunday](https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2023/2/12/23596540/chris-stapleton-national-anthem-super-bowl-2023-video-watch) and gave it his own blues touch. This includes the national anthem, which follows in a recent pattern of the NFL by utilizing a country music singer.

The Sporting News has everything you need to know about Chris Stapleton ahead of his rendition of the national anthem at Super Bowl 57.

His most successful song as the led artist is "Tennessee Whiskey," released as a promotional single in 2015. Nine of his songs as lead artist and three songs as a featured artist have charted in the Billboard Hot 100. 2 on the bluegrass charts before Stapleton left in 2010 to form Southern rock band the Jompson Brothers (where Stapleton was on vocals). He subsequently signed with publishing house Sea Gyle Music and in 2007 became the frontman for bluegrass group the SteelDrivers. Not bad for someone who dropped out of college to pursue a career in music. Perhaps that's why the NFL chose him to perform the national anthem Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

He reinvented "Tennessee Whiskey." He's serenaded an arena of Tyler Perry fans, and even tackled the "Dirty Dancing" theme song alongside Chris Pratt.

Last Sunday, he joined Stevie Wonder at the Grammys for a blazing rendition of "Higher Ground." "I think I said it because I thought I wouldn't get asked," Stapleton said with a laugh. And if that's a twist, then so be it." He's serenaded an arena of Tyler Perry fans, and even tackled the "Dirty Dancing" theme song alongside Chris Pratt. He was asked about this statement by the NFL Network's MJ Acosta-Ruiz during a Thursday press conference. But one thing Chris Stapleton hadn't done until Sunday, somehow, was sing the national anthem on television.

Chris Stapleton will perform the national anthem at Super Bowl LVII. From his beginnings in a small Kentucky town to his 15-year marriage, here are five ...

"It’s important to me to help kids who want to be creative, be that music or any form of expression," Stapleton told People magazine at the time. "She can really help me get down to the core of things I want to do or play, and — sometimes — I don’t even know what those are. None of the things we’re getting to do now would have happened, or even been possible, if she hadn’t been there." This man loves Eastern KY and he wanted to be gods hands and feet for the people who need help the most right now!" The singer was also valedictorian of his high school class, according to "CBS Mornings." In 2016, Stapleton returned to Paintsville to perform at his alma mater Johnson Central High School. According to The Louisville Courier Journal, he was seen working at cleanup sites and greeting fans at the local Walmart. Stapleton's hit 2015 debut studio album "Traveller" was largely inspired by the death of his father in 2013. But the instant I found that out, that that could be a job, I thought, 'That's the job for me. "It was so odd to me. "You was made for this moment and I can’t wait to watch," Mickey Guyton, who sang the national anthem at last year’s game, wrote on Stapleton's Instagram. The singer's family moved to Staffordsville after he was born in Lexington, Kentucky.

Chris Stapleton is tackling the Super Bowl national anthem on Sunday, Feb. 12. The performance is typically under one minute.

[Mickey Guyton](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/06/13/mickey-guyton-reflects-experiences-black-country-artist-oprah-interview/7604857001/)’s rendition at last year’s Super Bowl lasted one minute and 50 seconds. Times ](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-02-13/super-bowl-2022-mickey-guyton-national-anthem-length-how-long)reported that on average, the national anthem at the Super Bowl is a minute and 56 seconds. [Jimi Hendrix](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/09/18/jimi-hendrix-50-years-after-death-national-anthem-woodstock-protest-song-star-spangled-banner/5820094002/)’s “Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock had eclipsed four minutes by the time the feedback faded and he didn’t flub a single lyric. That’s nowhere near “The Longest Time.” And to be clear, I hate myself for typing that. [What to know about Rihanna's performance at Super Bowl 57](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/02/09/super-bowl-2023-halftime-show-rihanna-what-to-expect/11215385002/) [Billy Joel](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/11/06/billy-joel-concert-review-return-madison-square-garden-residency-hits-new-york/6313549001/) got through the anthem in a minute and a half before the 2007 Super Bowl. [Chris Stapleton to sing national anthem, Sheryl Lee Ralph to perform Black national anthem](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/01/24/national-anthem-super-bowl-2023-chris-stapleton-sheryl-lee-ralph/11111447002/) Some only make you wish they’d kept it tight. [Chris Stapleton](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/02/12/super-bowl-57-national-anthem-chris-stapleton-sheryl-lee-ralph/11214856002/) will not be doing a four-minute version when he opens the [Super Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona](https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/events/2022/10/07/super-bowl-2023-arizona-guide/8137041001/), on Sunday, Feb. [Whitney Houston](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2022/12/26/whitney-houston-i-wanna-dance-with-somebody-movie-fact-check/10950919002/)'s iconic performance at the Super Bowl in 1991 was just shy of two minutes. Some singers drag it out. How long is the Super Bowl national anthem?

Watch country music star Chris Stapleton do a great, bluesy take on the Star-Spangled Banner ahead of the Super Bowl.

Stapleton earned a pair of Grammy Awards, for Country Album of the Year, and Best Country Solo Performance. He released From a Room: Volume 2 near the end of the year. Stapleton’s second studio album, From a Room: Volume 1 was released in 2017 and led to Stapleton’s second CMA for Album of the Year. From a Room: Volume 1 secured Stapleton’s second Grammy Award for Country Album of the Year. His fourth studio album, Starting Over, was released in November of 2020, and led to yet more honors for Stapleton. He will be joined on the tour by special guests, including Allen Stone, Charley Crockett, Marcus King, Margo Price, Marty Stuart, Nikki Lane and The War and Treaty on select dates.

Country singer Chris Stapleton kicked off Super Bowl 2023 with a performance of the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."

2 after Super Bowl 2023 performance](https://pagesix.com/2023/02/12/rihanna-confirms-shes-pregnant-with-baby-no-2-at-super-bowl/) 25 in Alpharetta, Ga. “But if you’re gonna do it, this is the place to do it.” [All the celebrities at Super Bowl 2023](https://pagesix.com/2023/02/12/all-the-celebrities-at-super-bowl-2023-jay-z-paul-rudd-and-more/) [Rihanna soars through two decades of hits in Super Bowl 2023 halftime show](https://pagesix.com/2023/02/12/rihanna-performs-super-bowl-2023-halftime-show/) [Rihanna confirms she’s pregnant with baby No. Hopefully it won’t happen to me — knock on wood,” he joked Thursday at a press conference in Phoenix, Ariz. [Super Bowl LVII](https://pagesix.com/2023/02/12/all-the-celebrities-at-super-bowl-2023-jay-z-paul-rudd-and-more/) is officially underway.

The country music star performed a heartfelt rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" as a huge American flag was unfolded and held by dozens of people in red ...

Chris Stapleton's national anthem moves at Super Bowl 57, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Babyface sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing," "America the Beautiful."

[trifecta of artists](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/02/12/chris-stapleton-2023-super-bowl-national-anthem-length/11242187002/) who took the field Sunday prior to kickoff knew the importance of their platform. As she stood on a platform on the State Farm Stadium field, Ralph, wearing a red-and-black Harbijumpsuit that stretched out behind her and long red gloves, smiled and gestured her way through the uplifting song with theatrical verve. [Maybe the rawest unplugged show ever](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/02/12/foo-fighters-dave-grohl-unplugs-pre-super-bowl-concert/11242290002/) Babyface, born Kenneth Edmonds, is responsible for signing some of the most celebrated names in R&B: TLC, Usher and Toni Braxton among them. Kotsur became the second deaf actor to win an Academy Award for his role in Oscar best picture winner "CODA." [The 20 best Rihanna songs ever (from 'We Found Love' to 'Umbrella')](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/02/10/rihanna-best-songs-ever-ranked/11223998002/) Stapleton's quietly affecting rendition moved Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and center Jason Kelce to tears as they stood on the sideline. ['If it flops or flies, my name has to stand by that'](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/02/09/rihanna-dishes-jam-packed-super-bowl-halftime-show-rehearsals/11222770002/) [Jazmine Sullivan](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/02/07/super-bowl-55-jazmine-sullivan-eric-church-national-anthem/4427068001/) in 2021 and [Mickey Guyton](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/02/13/super-bowl-56-national-anthem-mickey-guyton-jhene-aiko/6740657001/) presented a soaring rendition in 2022. [ Emmy acceptance speech](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/09/12/sheryl-lee-ralph-accepts-first-emmy-abbott-elementary-emotion/10362737002/) last fall. [whose brawny voice is a hallmark of his numerous hits](https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2017/05/07/country-star-chris-stapleton-stays-grounded-after-meteoric-rise/101416146/), played guitar and [carried the national anthem](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/02/12/chris-stapleton-2023-super-bowl-national-anthem-length/11242187002/) with his usual humble approach. [Chris Stapleton](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/01/24/national-anthem-super-bowl-2023-chris-stapleton-sheryl-lee-ralph/11111447002/), Sheryl Lee Ralph ( ["Abbott Elementary"](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/03/29/abbott-elementary-cast-quinta-brunson-abc-workplace-comedy-success/9342744002/)) and [Babyface](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/04/10/babyface-reveals-coronavirus-battle-62nd-birthday/5135411002/) were tapped for the honors.

Chris Stapleton made "The Star Spangled Banner" sound like a blues standard. Babyface and Sheryl Lee Ralph were alternately restrained and exultant.

This marked the third year in a row that “Lift Every Voice” has been added to the pre-Bowl lineup for a musical triple play, although it had been a part of some NFL games for years prior to that. [Babyface](https://variety.com/t/babyface/) was even less showy than Stapleton, if also less rugged, also accompanying himself on guitar — albeit a flag-emblazoned acoustic one, with a full, pre-recorded backing track — as he sang the least belt-y version of “America the Beautiful” in memory, going for a quiet-storm approach to patriotism. But Stapleton confirmed what many of his fans already know — that he’s at least as much a classic blues singer as he is a country stylist.

Chris Stapleton, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and Sheryl Lee Ralph all performed at Super Bowl LVII, while Rihanna will handle the Apple Music Halftime Show.

In 2017, [Luke Bryan](https://people.com/tag/luke-bryan/) handled the song. "She is rehearsing right now. "It's one of those calls you think you're not gonna get," Stapleton said at a press conference on Thursday.

Country star Chris Stapleton performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Feb. 12. The eight-time Grammy Award winner is known for his sultry ...

Dressed in all black and sunglasses, accompanied only by his guitar, the “Tennessee Whiskey” vocalist delivered a sturdy and respectful rendition of “The Star- ...

[Mickey Guyton had the honor](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/mickey-guyton-super-bowl-national-anthem-review-1299505/) of singing the anthem, delivering a stirring, gospel-inflected version. “It’s going to be a celebration of my catalog in the best way we could have put it together.” That was the hardest, hardest part, deciding how to maximize 13 minutes but also celebrate,” she said. “The setlist was the biggest challenge. The year prior, in 2021, [Eric Church](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eric-church-jazmine-sullivan-star-spangled-banner-national-anthem-super-bowl-lv-1124734/) and R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan paired up for their interpretation. [Super Bowl LVII halftime show](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rihanna-super-bowl-press-conference-halftime-show-1234676685/).

Chris Stapleton opened up the 2023 Super Bowl with National Anthem performance, leading to tears from Nick Sirianni and crying from people at home.

[The other performers](https://www.today.com/popculture/music/super-bowl-2023-performers-rcna67288) who kicked off the game were Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, who sang “America the Beautiful," and “Abbott Elementary” actor Sheryl Lee Ralph, [who sang the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.](https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/sheryl-lee-ralph-super-bowl-performance-rcna70311)” [On Twitter](https://twitter.com/thesherylralph/status/1624876280645840896), Ralph pointed out that she was singing "Lift Every Voice" on the anniversary of its first public performance 123 years ago, on Feb. [Alongside Stapleton](https://www.today.com/video/chris-stapleton-troy-kotsur-to-perform-national-anthem-at-super-bowl-161685573953?search=Chris%20Stapleton) was “Coda” star Troy Kotsur, who performed the song in American Sign Language at the 2023 Super Bowl. [ in a tweet that has been viewed](https://twitter.com/ChrisStapleton/status/1617884950400995332?s=20&t=niRjpqiuQ41VdGAmqbxQQg) more than 560,000 times. [ Joe Amabile tweeted](https://twitter.com/AmabileJoe/status/1624913709213659141). [one Twitter user wrote](https://twitter.com/PeytonQuitter/status/1624914178346459138). [opened up the 2023 Super Bowl](https://www.today.com/news/sports/super-bowl-2023-date-time-location-rcna69704) with the national anthem, inspiring tears both at the stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and at home.

Chris Stapleton brought Super Bowl viewers to tears on Sunday (Feb. 12) with his rendition of the National Anthem.

Some likened the impassioned performance to that of Whitney Houston, who sang the National Anthem ahead of the 1991 Super Bowl — there's an online debate as to who sang it better bubbling on social media. "Chris Stapleton just delivered the best National Anthem we’ve heard in quite some time. 12) with his rendition of the National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner".