"Waiting All Day for Sunday Night."
It's often true that a picture is worth 1,000 words, but sometimes, those six words are worth an infinite amount of pictures. There is nothing musical about those words on the screen, but you associated it with a specific tune. It signifies cooler weather, early sunsets and, depending on your age, a reminder to finish homework before school in the morning.
No matter your association, the "Sunday Night Football" theme on NBC is iconic. And from "American Idol" star to the bright lights of Sunday night, Carrie Underwood has been there every step of the way.
So it serves as no surprise that she's back again for all the "SNF" fun, even if the game is played on a Thursday or Saturday.
The wait is almost over! 🎶
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) August 1, 2023
Carrie Underwood will star in the open for Sunday Night Football for the 11th consecutive season beginning 9/10 on NBC and @peacock. 🙌
MORE: https://t.co/PH7sIKFb6L pic.twitter.com/eoM8H6GZ2c
It marks the 11th consecutive season that Underwood will get millions of fans ready for the NFL on NBC. But that doesn't mean that change isn't in the soon-to-be fall air.
MORE: Watch "Sunday Night Football" live on Fubo (free trial)
NBC teased that the opening to "Sunday Night Football" will look a little different in 2023. Here's what that means and whether you'll still be humming along to, "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night."
New Carrie Underwood 'Sunday Night Football' video
Don't worry, the song isn't going anywhere.
Though NBC isn't revealing all the details, it appears that the newest version of the show's open is a visual change. According to a release from NBC, the new open, "features a concert performance interspersed with augmented reality highlights displayed across a halo scoreboard."
The video was filmed at The Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas — the city that is set to host Super Bowl 58 and will likely be featured even more throughout the 2023 season.
Underwood, who has been doing a periodic residency at the venue, said in a statement:
Once again, the incredible "Sunday Night Football" team came up with a fresh, exciting visual concept that really gave us a chance to play. I loved shooting the show open again this year at our home away from home, The Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, and can’t wait for another season of football!
“We’re thrilled to work with Carrie to capture a new vision for this season’s show open," Tripp Dixon, creative director of the show open for the past 11 years added. "It sets the tone for the broadcast and pays tribute to the teams, star players and fans in a fun and dynamic way."
MORE: Ranking NFL alternate, throwbacks for 2023
NBC says the new open won't debut until Week 1's matchup on Sunday night between the Giants and Cowboys from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. It marks the fifth time that those two teams will open the season in the Sunday prime-time affair, a series-high according to NBC.
That means that football fans will be left with two more chances to enjoy the now-retired open — the Hall of Fame game between the Jets and Browns on Aug. 3 and the season opener between the Lions and Chiefs on Sept. 7.
Get ready to crank up the sound.
