Charlie Puth shared how he got the chance to sing the national anthem at Super Bowl LX, and his approach was unexpected. In a recently published interview, the Light Switch singer said he didn’t wait for an invitation. Instead, he made his own audition tape and sent it in himself.
According to People, the 34-year-old artist explained, “I made up my own audition because I’ve always wanted to do it.” He got the February gig by simply applying for it. Puth said he’s always wanted this opportunity because he loves the song, calling it “the best song” and noting that it’s “so special.”
To make his case, Puth recorded a demo with just his vocals and a Rhodes keyboard. He sent that recording directly to Roc Nation. The strategy worked perfectly, as Jay-Z loved the recording, which helped it reach NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for final approval.
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Puth understands the massive vocal challenge ahead
Puth knows the national anthem is extremely difficult to perform. He previously posted a video explaining the technical challenge of singing The Star-Spangled Banner. He pointed out that most difficult songs only span about one octave, from a low D to a high D.
However, the national anthem requires a much wider vocal range, stretching from a low D all the way up to a very high A. That adds five extra notes to the challenge. Puth said he just wants to “do my own thing with the hardest piece of music ever written.”
Performing the anthem brings huge pressure, especially considering the legends who have done it before. Puth specifically mentioned Whitney Houston’s incredible performance in 1991. “I’m going to be inspired by what Whitney did, but I can’t ever touch what she did,” he admitted.
He views Houston’s version, along with Chris Stapleton’s, as the best ever. He said Stapleton’s performance was “raw” and “Made grown men cry.” It’s also a big honor for Puth personally because he would be the second New Jersey native to sing the anthem, just like Houston, who was from Newark. The Super Bowl continues to generate intense debate among sports personalities about various topics beyond just the game itself.
Puth faced criticism online when the performance was announced in December. One commentator questioned his vocal abilities, saying, “Man we’ve fallen from when Whitney Houston sang at the Super Bowl. Charlie Puth? He’s not gonna give us vocals I’m afraid.” Puth responded directly to the criticism, saying he would never claim to be as good as Houston.
However, he promised he’s creating a “really special arrangement” in D major and it will be one of his “best vocal performances.” He wants to prove himself, saying, “I feel like people don’t really think of me as, like, a stand-alone vocalist at times.” The NFL world has seen political moments catching fans off guard recently, showing how sports and other topics often intersect.
Published: Jan 22, 2026 12:15 pm