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.
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.
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 delivered a moving Super Bowl national anthem with Troy Kotsur signing. Plus here's how Babyface and Sheryl Lee Ralph did.
And that’s exactly how it went, a life-affirming testament to the profound meaning of those lyrics that was bolstered by the “Dreamgirls” star’s Broadway experience. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or 602-444-4495. That speaks well of Babyface’s taste in music. She added that the goal of her performance was “to make sure we could have a version for people to understand the great lyrics of this song and what it means.” Sheryl Lee Ralph, the Emmy-winning star of “Abbott Elementary,” got the pregame entertainment off to a breathtaking start with her version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black national anthem, looking powerful in a flowing, off-the-shoulder red gown and matching gloves. [DraftKings Nation](https://dknation.draftkings.com/2023/2/12/23592639/super-bowl-national-anthem-length-2023-over-under-time-result-prop-bet-chris-stapleton), Chris Stapleton sang the national anthem at Super Bowl 2023 in two minutes and one second.