When you think of Super Bowl national anthems, there should be two that come to mind: Whitney Houston in 1991, and Chris Stapleton in 2023. These two incredible performers both delivered powerful national anthems, but is there one that is superior over the other? Which national anthem performance is the greatest in Super Bowl history?
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Whitney Houston Made a Lasting Impression with Her Iconic 1991 National Anthem
In 1991, Whitney Houston took the field at the now-defunct Tampa Stadium in Florida. She took everyone’s breath away with her rendition of the national anthem. Her performance was so iconic that it’s still upheld today as one of the best in history. There’s no denying that it was a huge moment not only in football history but in Houston’s career. The performance came at the right time in U.S. history as well. The Persian Gulf War had just begun, and the patriotism was strong in Tampa Stadium that evening. Houston was backed by an orchestra and she performed the anthem with little embellishment or extraneous notes. There was only the orchestra and her incredible voice delivering a straightforward but triumphant national anthem, and it was exactly what the country needed.
Chris Stapleton Wowed Football Fans with His Rendition in 2023
Chris Stapleton performed the national anthem in 2023 at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. He impressed football fans with a technically skillful and understated national anthem, preferring to perform with just his guitar and distinct vocals. Stapleton has the kind of voice that instantly evokes strong emotions. He knows how to give you goosebumps from just his guitar prowess, but add in his vocals and every performance is the performance of a lifetime. He’s just that good at what he does. While this performance doesn’t have the boost of raw patriotism that Whitney Houston’s does, Stapleton’s national anthem was so full of emotion that it brought many players to tears.
The Verdict?
There’s really no competition here, because, in my opinion, both Whitney Houston and Chris Stapleton’s national anthems are so different as to be on the same level. Hear me out. Houston’s performance was bold, simple yet powerful, and she had the benefit of performing at a time in history that was dripping with patriotism. Stapleton performed a stripped-back version of the national anthem, but he relied on his signature vocal embellishments and command of emotion to carry the performance. These two performances are on completely opposite sides of the spectrum, but that’s why we can hold them up next to each other and say “why not both?”
For me, both Stapleton and Houston are the masters of the national anthem. I haven’t seen performers quite like these two, and they took the national anthem and put their spin on it. Houston with her powerful yet straightforward vocal approach backed by a rousing orchestra; Stapleton with his single-guitar approach but textured and rich vocals. They are opposite in style at the same time that they elicit the same response from listeners.
Featured Image by George Rose/Getty Images; Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
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