Since 2013, NBC has used the country star Carrie Underwood to inaugurate their Sunday Night Football television shows. But from the coming season, she will be joined by Joan Jett, with the two of them singing “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night”. Jett’s band, the Blackhearts, performed on the recording.
The song, which had been sung over the years by Pink (2006), Hill of Faith (2007-2012) and Underwood (2013-2015), is a rewrite of Jett’s hit “I hate myself for loving you.” In recent years, Underwood has performed “Oh Sunday Night” and “Game On.” The segment, which was filmed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, will premiere on September 7, when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New England Patriots. A preview will be shown this Sunday (August 25) during the game between the Steelers and the Tennessee Titans.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Joan’s and I’m thrilled to have her join us for Open Sunday Night Football,” Underwood enthused in a statement reprinted at Washington Post. “What better way to pay homage to SNF’s original opening song than by performing with it on primetime’s biggest stage?”
According to the Post, executive producer Fred Gaudelli tried to convince Jett, whom he has known for 20 years, to sing the theme, but she refused. As the National Football League celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, he tried again, this time successfully.
“It’s a perfect way to celebrate the league’s 100th season by going back to the beginning,” Gaudelli said. “It’s a perfect way to evolve and celebrate the song.”
In June, Jett and Underwood carried out a medley of “I Hate Myself for Loving You”, “Bad Reputation” and “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” during the CMA Music Festival in Nashville.
