Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Charlie Puth will sing the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl LX, which will be held in Santa Clara, California. One of the year's most-watched musical performances, the pregame performance occurs shortly before kickoff. All around the country, fans are not only tuning in to watch the game, but also the pageantry surrounding the game, from the anthem to the other ceremonial events.
And, as ever, the duration of the anthem is among the top questions entering the Super Bowl. Unlike the halftime show, there is no time limit on the performance. Each artist turns in their own interpretation, which means different lengths from year to year. Then, if you put Charlie Puth's vocal range and musical creativity into the mix, how short/simple or long/embellished this is getting is for Puth to choose.
How long could Charlie Puth’s national anthem last
Initial estimates indicate that Charlie Puth's rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner will likely end at the two-minute mark. Anthem performances in recent Super Bowls, as well as others with similar sung parts, have generally lasted somewhere between one minute and 30 seconds (for slower singers) and two and a half minutes (when anthem singers cut loose). Those monitoring such trends say Puth, a former pop singer and pianist, will deliver something relatively tight, if relatively theatrical.
Bookies and fans alike have already started the guessing game on when it could happen. Over the past few years, the unofficial average length of the anthem has been around 1 minute 55 seconds. Others add in dramatic pauses between lines or really hold the last note; the total time is in excess of 2 mins. Some others just want it delivered with a simple style and are far below that number. But Puth has enough formal training to know better.
Why anthem timing matters to Super Bowl viewers
The duration of the national anthem has quietly emerged as one of the biggest talking points in the run-up to the big game over the last ten years. What used to be a ceremonial tradition has evolved into an event. These days, most viewers focus on the performance, timing it from the opening note to the last word.
People often compare you with previous performers. Past versions have famously breezed through the time in about a minute and a half, while others have lingered on the emotional component, swallowing up more than two minutes. Because Charlie Puth is legendary and is loved by people all around the globe, it'll probably be a performance for the ages, no matter the timing.