Carrie Underwood is returning to Sunday Night Football for another season, and NBC is giving her iconic opening a noticeable makeover.
The country superstar is set to perform the show’s opening for the 14th consecutive season, but this year’s version is taking a darker, more rock-inspired direction. While Underwood is excited about the fresh sound and look, some viewers are already making it clear that they would prefer to see someone new.
Carrie Underwood embraces her rock side
The new promo gives Underwood a dramatically different appearance.
The singer appears in a black-and-teal ensemble featuring leather shorts, a sheer teal top, a sparkling blazer and knee-high black boots decorated with silver details. Her signature blonde hair and layered jewelry complete the edgy look.
The visual change matches the updated arrangement of “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” NBC’s football anthem based on Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Hate Myself for Loving You.”
Rather than simply repeating the familiar formula, the new production leans further into rock, with Underwood performing across several settings before the action moves into a packed football stadium.
Underwood has made no secret of how much she enjoys the new direction.
She described the updated version as part of her ongoing “rock star fever dream” and praised the production team for creating what she considers one of her favorite openings yet.
Fans have mixed feelings about the return
Despite the changes, not everyone is convinced that the opening needs Carrie Underwood at all.
After NBC shared a preview, some viewers took to social media to call for a new performer. One fan said they believed it was time for a change, while another asked whether the network could feature different artists.
Other reactions were even more blunt, with some viewers calling for Underwood to be replaced and others joking that they would simply mute the opening.
A few fans also questioned whether the musical introduction is even necessary, saying they would rather get straight to the football.
Still, the criticism is only one side of the conversation. Underwood continues to have plenty of supporters, and her long association with the broadcast has made her voice almost inseparable from Sunday-night football.
A new season, but a familiar voice
Underwood first took over the Sunday Night Football opening in 2013, following Faith Hill. Over the years, she has become one of the most recognizable elements of NBC’s weekly NFL presentation.
Now, she is bringing a more energetic rock sound to the familiar tradition.
The new opening is scheduled to debut September 13, when the Dallas Cowboys face the New York Giants in the 2026 Sunday Night Football season opener.
Whether viewers love the new rock makeover or continue asking NBC for a different performer, one thing is certain: Carrie Underwood will once again be the voice welcoming football fans to primetime.