"I’ve still got the fire like day one!" – Carrie Underwood returns to open Sunday Night Football for the 13th consecutive year!

Carrie Underwood set to return to 'Sunday Night Football' (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images)

Carrie Underwood Returns To Sing “SNF” Theme For 13th Straight Season

Carrie Underwood is continuing her longtime tradition of singing the opening theme for Sunday Night Football.

Underwood and NBC confirmed the news with a joint social media post.

The “Cowboy Casanova” singer has been the voice of the SNF theme since 2013, taking over the role from fellow country star Faith Hill.

What We Know So Far

As of right now, not many details have been shared about this year’s opening number.

But, fans can only assume that Underwood will be bringing back the song “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” which is inspired by Joan Jett’s classic “I Hate Myself for Loving You.”

“Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” has been the anthem for most football seasons over the years. Each time, Underwood adds a new twist to the song.

The announcement post also hints that this will be the theme song for the 2025-2026 season. The caption reads, “We’ll be waiting all day to hear it once again.”

Although the exact changes haven’t been revealed yet, NBC says something special is definitely planned for the 20th season.

“For the 20th season of SNF, we wanted to set the tone for the night by reimagining the anthem sound in a way that plays to Carrie’s powerhouse vocals,” Creative director Tripp Dixon said in a statement. “

He continued, “While visually creating a seamless blend of stylized shots and behind-the-scenes moments evoking the national roadshow that is Sunday Night Football, week after week in the fall.”

The track was once again recorded at The Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, marking its third year in a row of doing so.

Underwood is also no stranger to the venue, having headlined her Reflection residency there for nearly three years before wrapping it up this past spring.

“As always, Tripp and the creative team continue to raise the bar, bringing the high energy and stunning visuals that the Sunday Night Football audience has come to expect year after year,” Underwood said. “I can’t wait for the world to see it!”

Carrie Underwood’s first performance of the season will air on Sunday, September 7, on NBC and Peacock, during the season opener featuring the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills.

See a sneak peek of this year’s opening number!

On Thursday night, July 31, Sunday Night Football shared a sneak peek of the opener on social media, saying, “Coming soon to a television near you!”

At first listen, this year’s anthem doesn’t sound much different than 2024’s. But, fans will have to tune in on September 7 to hear the full performance. Check out the 2025-2026 Sunday Night Football anthem in the video below.