SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The tension at Levi’s Stadium is thick enough to cut with a knife. We are hours away from a historic Super Bowl LX rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, but before Sam Darnold and Drake Maye take the field, the 12th Man has a different reason to scream. Washington native Brandi Carlile is set to perform “America the Beautiful,” and for the 11-time Grammy winner, this isn’t just a gig—it’s personal.
The Voice of the Pacific Northwest
While Charlie Puth handles the “Star-Spangled Banner” and Bad Bunny preps for the halftime spectacle, Carlile’s performance carries a specific emotional weight. A lifelong Seahawks fan born in Ravensdale, Washington, Carlile stands on the 50-yard line today not just as a global superstar, but as a representative of the Seattle faithful.
Carlile enters Super Bowl Sunday on a career-high hot streak. Just last month, she earned her first Academy Award nomination for “Never Too Late,” her soul-stirring collaboration with Elton John. The track, which anchors their joint April 2025 album Who Believes in Angels?, has dominated the airwaves, proving that her Americana roots can flourish on the world’s biggest pop stages.
“I’ve never been a sports lady… but my daughters, inexplicably, are total jocks, and they have just got me in line quick. So I am making up for lost time as a fan. To stand there and sing for my team? That’s heavy stuff.” — Brandi Carlile, via Apple Music Press Conference
Beyond the Anthem: The Carlile File
If you only know Carlile from her recent red carpet run with Elton John or Joni Mitchell, you’ve missed one of the most consistent catalogs in modern music. Her sound—a jagged, emotional blend of rock, country, and folk—hits harder than a linebacker in the open field.
Before kickoff, get familiar with the tracks that built her Hall-of-Fame resume:
- The Story (2007): The breakout hit. With over 177 million streams, this is the anthem that started it all. If you hear that famous voice crack today, remember this song.
- The Joke (2018): A Grammy-winning power ballad (60M+ streams) that silenced critics and cemented her status as an elite vocalist.
- Right on Time (2021): The lead single from In These Silent Days that proved she could dominate streaming platforms (24.9M streams) without compromising her sound.
- You’re Gonna Go Far (2024): Her collaboration with Noah Kahan introduced her to a new generation of folk-pop fans.
What This Means for the Game
Carlile’s presence adds a distinct “home field” advantage for Seattle in neutral territory. The Seahawks, led by a resurgent Sam Darnold, need every edge they can get against a Patriots defense that strangled the AFC all season. When Carlile hits that final high note, expect the Seattle sideline to erupt.
After the confetti falls in Santa Clara, Carlile won’t be resting. She kicks off her massive global arena tour later this month, starting with a sold-out night at Madison Square Garden. But for today, her eyes are fixed on one thing: watching the Seahawks finish the job they started over a decade ago.
