On Sunday, February 8, 2026, the nation’s eyes turned to Santa Clara, California, as Super Bowl LX unfolded with all its usual spectacle and drama. But before a single play was made, singer-songwriter Charlie Puth took center stage, delivering a rendition of the national anthem that had both football fans and music enthusiasts buzzing. For Puth, 34, this was more than just another performance—it marked the culmination of years of ambition and preparation, as well as a moment of personal and professional triumph.
Charlie Puth’s journey to the Super Bowl was anything but accidental. Born Charles Otto Puth Jr. in Rumson, New Jersey, he developed his musical chops early, studying jazz and piano and later attending the Manhattan School of Music’s Pre-College program. After earning a degree in music production and engineering from Berklee College of Music in 2013, Puth’s career steadily climbed. According to USA Today, he rose to prominence in the early 2010s after his song covers went viral on YouTube, eventually leading to an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2011. That moment—performing Adele’s “Someone Like You” with Emily Luther—helped launch a career that would see him sign with Ellen DeGeneres’ eleveneleven label and collaborate on jingles, theme songs, and, eventually, chart-topping singles.
For years, Puth had his sights set on singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl. As reported by the New York Post, he recorded a demo of the anthem on his electric piano and sent it to Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z. Roc Nation then passed the demo to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The arrangement is everything for me,” Puth said at a pregame press conference in San Francisco. “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. … So I’ve been rehearsing this in my head for months, if that makes sense.”
When Puth finally stepped onto the field at Levi’s Stadium, he did so with a gospel-infused arrangement, performing on a Rhodes piano and joined by a choir section. The performance was a nod to both tradition and innovation, and Puth made sure to place his own stamp on the anthem. He even referenced the legendary Whitney Houston, whose 1991 Super Bowl performance is still considered by many to be the gold standard. “I wanted to stand out like Chris Stapleton did in 2023,” Puth explained, “and my goal was to make viewers feel inspired.”
For fans and bettors alike, the national anthem is more than just a patriotic prelude—it’s a moment ripe for Super Bowl prop bets. According to BetMGM and analyst Darren Rovell, Puth’s performance clocked in at 111 seconds, notably under the Over/Under projection of 117.5 seconds set by FanDuel. Those who bet the Under cashed in quickly. FanDuel even offered additional betting markets, such as the duration of Puth’s final note and whether a player or coach would be moved to tears—an outcome so likely it was heavily favored at -230 odds. The intersection of music, emotion, and sports betting has become a quirky but beloved tradition for many Super Bowl viewers.
Puth’s appearance also carried a bit of home-state pride. He joined Whitney Houston as the only other New Jersey native to sing the anthem at the Super Bowl, a fact that wasn’t lost on him or his fans. With his performance, Puth added his name to a short but illustrious list of artists who have opened the nation’s biggest sporting event.
Of course, Puth wasn’t the only musician to grace the Super Bowl LX stage. Grammy award-winning artist Brandi Carlile delivered a stirring performance of “America the Beautiful,” while Coco Jones—known for her start as a Disney Channel star—sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the Black national anthem. Fred Beam and Julian Ortiz provided American Sign Language interpretation during the performances, ensuring accessibility for all viewers, as noted by USA Today.
The night’s musical festivities didn’t stop there. Green Day, the iconic punk band, performed during a special opening ceremony to celebrate the Super Bowl’s 60th anniversary, kicking off the evening’s entertainment at 6 p.m. before the game’s official start at 6:30 p.m. And while Puth’s anthem set the tone, the halftime show was headlined by none other than Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican superstar made history as the first Latin American male artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show and the first to perform entirely in Spanish. Bad Bunny, who previously appeared in the 2020 halftime show alongside Shakira, J Balvin, and Jennifer Lopez, had just picked up three Grammy Awards at the 68th annual ceremony, including Album of the Year. “The world will dance,” he promised in a YouTube teaser, and he delivered with a setlist packed with hits like “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Callaíta,” and “Me Porto Bonito.”
For those tuning in from home, Super Bowl LX was broadcast live on NBC and streamed on Telemundo and Peacock, ensuring fans across the country—and the world—could catch every moment.
Charlie Puth’s Super Bowl moment was the latest milestone in a career marked by both critical and commercial success. His discography includes three studio albums to date, with “Voicenotes” earning a Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical at the 61st Grammy Awards. His collaboration with Wiz Khalifa, “See You Again,” was nominated for Song of the Year at the Grammys and spent an impressive 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Puth’s fourth studio album is scheduled for release on March 27, 2026, and anticipation is already building among fans and industry insiders alike.
Reflecting on his journey, it’s clear that Puth’s Super Bowl performance was more than just a high-profile gig. It was the realization of a long-held dream, achieved through a combination of talent, persistence, and a knack for connecting with audiences—whether through a YouTube cover, a Grammy-nominated single, or a stirring rendition of the national anthem on one of the world’s biggest stages.
As the echoes of his performance fade and the game’s outcome becomes the next day’s headline, Charlie Puth’s name will surely linger in the conversation, not only as a chart-topping artist but as the latest musician to leave an indelible mark on Super Bowl history.