Carrie Underwood is set to return for another NFL season, but some fans are already calling for NBC to give Sunday Night Football a new voice.
Underwood has been the signature voice of NBC’s Sunday night football coverage for more than a decade. She took over the iconic opening in 2013, following Faith Hill, and quickly made the performance her own with a new version of “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night.”
Now, however, some viewers believe it may be time for another change.
Carrie Underwood is returning with a new version
NBC’s 2026 Sunday Night Football season kicks off September 13, when the New York Giants take on the Dallas Cowboys.
Underwood will once again lead the opening, but this season’s performance will feature a new version of the familiar anthem.
The singer has embraced the update, describing it as part of her ongoing “rock star fever dream” and saying she loves the new version of the track.
Director Tripp Dixon also revealed that the updated performance draws inspiration from Underwood’s longtime love of rock music.
That direction makes sense given the song’s history. The Sunday Night Football anthem is based on Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” giving the new arrangement a chance to lean further into its rock roots.
But while NBC is refreshing the performance, some NFL viewers want the network to go a step further.
They want a completely new singer.
Fans are asking NBC for a new voice
Underwood continues to have plenty of supporters, but some fans have taken to social media to argue that her long run should come to an end.
One viewer wrote that they love Underwood but believe “it’s time for her to go” and that NBC should bring in someone new.
Another suggested that even a new version of the song may not be enough to make the opening feel fresh, arguing that changing the performer would create a bigger impact.
Some fans are also drawing comparisons to Underwood’s own arrival. Since she replaced Faith Hill in 2013, they believe the time has come for another country star to take over.
And one name has already emerged as a potential replacement: Lainey Wilson.
Other viewers, meanwhile, want NBC to take the opening in a completely different direction, suggesting that a more energetic rock or country performer could better match the intensity of primetime NFL football.
NBC isn’t making a change — for now
Despite the criticism, there is no indication that NBC plans to replace Underwood anytime soon.
She remains one of the most recognizable parts of the network’s football coverage and is set to continue leading the opening when the 2026 season begins.
After more than a decade in the role, Underwood has become closely associated with Sunday Night Football.
Whether NBC eventually decides to hand the spotlight to another artist remains to be seen. For now, though, Carrie Underwood is still the voice welcoming football fans to primetime on Sunday nights.