Ever since Whitney Houston’s amazing rendition of the National Anthem back in Super Bowl XXV, every singing star has wanted to get on stage and belt out the song of America. Before her electric performance, the anthem was a lesser affair performed by someone that was typically not nationally known, but since then it’s been regarded as the beginning of the Super Bowl broadcast. This year, Luke Bryan will be performing the National Anthem and the country music star is ready to belt it out in Texas.
Don't miss Super Bowl 51 from NRG Stadium in Houston, TX at 6:30 p.m. ET on February 5, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on FOX.
Super Bowl 51 Odds at BookMaker.eu
Atlanta Falcons +3
New England Patriots -3
Over/Under 58
How Long Will the National Anthem Last?
Over 120.00 seconds -200
Under 120.00 seconds +155
Luke Bryan will perform the National Anthem and he will be the first male to perform the anthem in a decade. Billy Joel was the last male artist to sing the anthem at the Super Bowl and he gave what was by far the shortest performance of the last decade. Joel ended up singing the anthem in a crisp 1 minute and 30 seconds and only Kelly Clarkson’s performance in Super Bowl 46 was within 15 seconds of that mark.
Public opinion is pretty split on whether or not people like singers to really belt out the anthem and add their own twist to it or keep it more traditional. However, while there is no criticism of those that keep it short, there can be a bevy of derision for singers that run long.
Famously, this year Aretha Franklin set what may be a record for the longest rendition of the National Anthem ever, singing for 4 minutes and 35 seconds before the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings squared off on Thanksgiving. Franklin was roundly criticized on social media for the length of her anthem and will likely not be asked to perform again.
There is a train of thought that country music stars tend to be more conservative with the anthem and less likely to extend than singers from other genres. That makes some sense as the singers who overextend are characterized by some as unpatriotic and that label would be tough for any country music singer to overcome. With its emphasis on the flag and appeal to Middle America, country music is less likely to be controversial.
If you’re looking for a recent example of a National Anthem from a country music star, look at what Carrie Underwood did back in Super Bowl 44. Underwood had one of the shorter national anthems on record clocking in at 1 minute and 47 seconds in what was considered a solid anthem. Other notable performances from country music singers include Faith Hill’s 1 minute and 59 second anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV and Garth Brooks’ 1 minute and 45 second version at Super Bowl XXVII.
In case you are wondering whether or not Bryan has ever sung the National Anthem before, take a look at the 2012 MLB All-Star Game. There, Bryan sang our nation’s song in 2 minutes and 3 seconds but didn’t particularly drag anything out. However, since there was a flyover he may have been asked to keep an eye on the clock to get the last words to coincide with the flyover. There will be no such concerns with a Super Bowl that is being played in a dome.
7 of the last 10 National Anthems have ended up going under the mark listed, but few have had an over/under this low. Typically, books have set the line for the National Anthem at 2 minutes and change, but 2 minutes flat is tougher to beat. Still, at positive odds the under is the better side for this prop bet.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
