These are the top 5 longest ever national anthems at the Super Bowl: how long will it take Charlie Puth?
Puth is to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of Super Bowl LX, which sees the Seahawks take on the Patriots in Santa Clara.
Charlie Puth performed the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl LX in Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara. His rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ took just 1:52.32, a few seconds shorter than the 2025 edition.
Before Super Bowl LIX a year ago, Jon Baptiste sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” in one minute and 59 seconds.
Who sang the slowest and fastest Super Bowl national anthems?
The longest Super Bowl anthem was performed by the 17-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys, who stretched the song out for an unmatched two minutes and 36 seconds before Super Bowl XLVII in February 2013.
Keys’ rendition just beat the record previously set by Natalie Cole in January 1994, ahead of Super Bowl XXVIII. Cole took two minutes and 33 seconds.
Meanwhile, the record for the NFL title game’s shortest ever national anthem is currently in the possession of Neil Diamond, who was finished in one minute and two seconds at Super Bowl XXI, in January 1987.
Top 5 longest Super Bowl national anthems:
- 1. Alicia Keys (2013): 2:36
- 2. Natalie Cole (1994): 2:33
- 3. Lady Gaga (2016): 2:22
- 4. Jazmine Sullivan & Eric Church (2021): 2:16
- 5. Jennifer Hudson (2009): 2:10
Source: DraftKings Network
“I want mine to be a nod to Whitney’s”
Puth, a four-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, has said ahead of this weekend’s Super Bowl performance: “I’ve been rehearsing this in my head for months.”
“I always reverse-engineer how I hear my own music in my head, and then it’s kind of just like pulling it apart and making it a feasible product to hold,” the 34-year-old told a press conference on Thursday. Describing “The Star-Spangled Banner” as a “very musically difficult song to sing”, Puth added that he hopes viewers “feel inspired” by his performance of the anthem.
“I want everybody to know that music is such an amazing thing and can change so many people’s lives,” said the New Jersey native, who was confirmed as Super Bowl LX’s anthem singer in November. “Other than food, it’s the thing that we can all [agree we love]. Everybody loves music - I’ve never met somebody who doesn’t love music. I just think it can color every aspect of your day so vividly.”
In an interview on the podcast On Air With Ryan Seacrest last month, Puth spoke of his desire to emulate the legendary national-anthem performance given by Whitney Houston, a fellow New Jerseyan, at 1991’s Super Bowl. “That’s the best one in existence in my opinion, and the Chris Stapleton one [in 2023] as well,” he told Seacrest. “I want mine to be a nod to Whitney’s in a way.”
As is noted by Sports Illustrated’s Iain MacMillan, were Puth’s tribute to Houston involve singing the anthem at the same pace as the nine-time Grammy winner, he would clock in at around the two-minute mark. Houston, who died in 2012, gave her rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in one minute and 57 seconds.
Super Bowl LX: kickoff times, how to watch
In Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots face off on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, with kickoff at Levi’s Stadium scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET/3:40 p.m. PT.
In the U.S., the game will air nationally on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo. You can also stream Seattle vs New England on the online platform fubo, which offers new users a free, introductory trial.
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