Carrie Underwood will return as the featured performer in NBC’s Sunday Night Football show open for the 14th consecutive season, continuing one of television’s longest-running sports and music partnerships. NBC announced the new opening sequence will debut Sept. 13 before the season-opening matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants, which will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
The 2026 production takes a new creative direction inspired by Underwood’s affinity for rock music. Filmed across a recording studio, an intimate live music venue and a packed stadium, the updated open is designed to blend the atmosphere of a concert with the excitement of NFL game day. The familiar “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” theme continues to draw from Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ classic “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” while introducing a refreshed visual style.
“This year’s show open welcomes Sunday Night Football into my ongoing rock star fever dream,” Underwood said. “I love this new version of the track and, once again, Tripp (Sunday Night Football show open creative director) and the incredible team behind the camera brought it to life in a whole new way that captures the spirit of this iconic song and the heart of rock ‘n’ roll.” Creative director Tripp Dixon said the latest production combines the franchise’s established identity with new rock-inspired elements while showcasing Underwood’s energetic performance.
Underwood has fronted the Sunday Night Football open since 2013, succeeding Faith Hill and becoming a signature part of NBC’s NFL coverage. The annual production has evolved through different visual concepts while maintaining the recognizable opening anthem that has become synonymous with the network’s primetime broadcasts. The latest installment arrives as Sunday Night Football begins another season as one of television’s highest-rated sports programs, with Underwood continuing a role that has become a staple of the NFL viewing experience.
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