ST.Carrie Underwood Reveals the Untold Story Behind Her ‘Sunday Night Football’ Intros — Hundreds Never Heard 

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For 13 seasons, Carrie Underwood has been the unmistakable voice behind NBC’s Sunday Night Football intros, delivering powerful vocals that set the stage for America’s most-watched primetime football broadcast. But recently, the country superstar pulled back the curtain on a surprising behind-the-scenes truth: she records hundreds of intros every year — many of which never make it to air.

In an insightful interview on Highway Mornings with Cody Alan, Underwood shared how the process works, revealing a side of the broadcast few fans ever see.

While the NFL releases the initial Sunday night schedule before the season starts, game matchups can change throughout the year. Midseason “flex” scheduling means more exciting games are swapped into the coveted Sunday night slot, while the unpredictability of playoff matchups adds another layer of complexity.

“That stuff means I’m recording every possible combination of teams that could show up,” Underwood explained. “So there are dozens, if not hundreds, of intros that end up in the digital trash.”

Underwood’s role as the voice of Sunday Night Football began in 2013, when she took over from Faith Hill, who had held the role from 2006 to 2012. Before Hill, the intros were performed by Pink. While the iconic “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” remains the most recognized intro song, Underwood has also lent her voice to other themes like “Oh, Sunday Night” (a take on her collaboration with Miranda Lambert) and “Game On,” an original track debuted in 2018.

The process is more involved than many realize. First, the basic song arrangement is laid down with some yearly updates. Then Underwood films the visuals and records every vocal combination to cover every possible matchup, from regular-season games to unpredictable playoff duos. The NFL also films team footage and player highlights in various cities, trying to anticipate which players will be relevant when the games air.

Despite the enormity of the task, Underwood revealed a surprising detail about compensation. Contrary to widespread rumors that she earns millions for her Sunday Night Football performances, she clarified on Howard Stern’s show in 2023 that it’s actually “pretty pro bono.”

“I wish! That would be great, that would be awesome!” she laughed, dispelling the myth that she makes $18 million a year from the gig.

For fans, Underwood’s revelations add a new appreciation for the dedication behind those few seconds of musical buildup before kickoff — and a reminder of just how much work goes into making Sunday Night Football the must-watch event it is every week.