Performing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl is a daunting prospect at best. Between nerves, the intimidation factor of knowing there are millions watching and trying to live up to Whitney Houston’s unbeatable 1991 version at Super Bowl XXV, it’s a potential fools errand at best. But Charlie Puth set it all aside and nailed his performance on Sunday (Feb. 8).
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And, as it turns out, he actually went out of his way to pay homage to Houston instead of running away from that gold standard during his delivery at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. “Thank you everyone for your kind words,” he wrote on X after the performance. “It was an honor to sing The National Anthem. I wrote the arrangement in a very specific way to honor Whitney Houston- I hope that was heard.”
Puth’s performance had a light gospel feel to it, with a choir and orchestra accompanying him as he played along on a Rhodes keyboard. He had kind words for the musicians as well, adding in his post, “Thank you to the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, the Sainted Choir, the Color of Noize Orchestra, Steve Hackman, and Kenny G for joining me on stage. And thank you Adam Blackstone for writing such a beautiful choir part. I love music so much.”
Dressed in a brown leather bomber jacket over a white shirt and tie with jeans, Puth crooned the anthem in a crystal-clear falsetto over the traditional close-up shots of the stars from the two teams — the victorious Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots — getting their game faces on. The performance ended on a soaring high note during a thrilling stealth bomber flyover.
The Big Game’s pre-kickoff programming also included Coco Jones performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and Brandi Carlile singing “America the Beautiful,” as well as Green Day playing a mini-concert for the opening ceremony. Later, Bad Bunny headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
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