Carrie Underwood will return as the performer of NBC's Sunday Night Football show open for a 14th year, announced on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. The new version takes a rock-leaning approach to the long-running theme song "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night."

Sunday Night Football shared the news in an Instagram post that Underwood reposted jointly, Billboard reported. Her tenure as the musical face of the programme began in 2013, making her the longest-running performer of the open in the broadcast's history.

Longtime creative director Tripp Dixon said his team drew inspiration from Underwood's love of rock music for the 2026 revamp. The anthem itself has rock DNA: it was originally inspired by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' 1988 single "I Hate Myself for Loving You." Jett herself appeared in a previous rendition of the open when Underwood's version was refreshed in 2019, NBC Sports confirmed at the time. That same year, the show open was filmed inside an NFL stadium for the first time, at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Underwood performed on the field.

Before Underwood, the theme had two other voices. Pink was the first to sing "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" when the package launched in 2006. Faith Hill then took over from 2007 through 2012, according to Billboard.

Underwood's chart credentials span well beyond the football broadcast. She has topped the Billboard 200 — the weekly ranking of the most-consumed albums in the US — four times, and has logged 43 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, the singles chart, including the 2005 No. 1 hit "Inside Your Heaven." Her most recent album, 2022's Denim & Rhinestones, debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200.

For viewers, the 2026 season brings a familiar voice with a fresh edge: the same anthem, retooled with the rock guitar sensibility that has run through the song since its inception. The NFL regular season typically kicks off in September, which means the new open is set to debut in the coming weeks.