Charlie Puth Puts Unique Spin on National Anthem for Super Bowl 60

The singer reveals how he prepared to perform the iconic song at the big game.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Pop singer Charlie Puth, 34, is taking on the challenge of performing the National Anthem at Super Bowl 60. Puth has been preparing extensively, emphasizing the anthem's vocal difficulty and drawing inspiration from Whitney Houston's iconic rendition. The singer revealed that he rearranged the anthem to make it his own, focusing on the meaning and delivery of the lyrics.

Why it matters

Performing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl is one of the most high-profile gigs in music, with Whitney Houston's 1991 version considered one of the greatest renditions of all time. Puth's take on the anthem will be closely watched, as he aims to put his own unique spin on the classic while honoring the song's significance.

The details

Puth said the most challenging aspect of the 'Star-Spangled Banner' is the 'five more notes above the octave.' To prepare, he revealed that he has been 'rehearsing this in my head for months' and focused on rearranging the anthem to make it his own. Puth posted a video on Instagram walking on the field, with the sound of Houston's iconic version playing in the background.

  • Puth is set to perform the National Anthem at Super Bowl 60 on February 12, 2026.
  • Puth posted a video on Instagram on February 7, 2026, teasing his take on the anthem.

The players

Charlie Puth

A 34-year-old pop singer who is performing a personalized arrangement of the National Anthem at Super Bowl 60.

Whitney Houston

The late singer whose 1991 rendition of the National Anthem is considered one of the greatest of all time and has inspired Puth's performance.

Kenny Ortega

A director who encouraged Puth to focus on the anthem's meaning and delivery in his comments on Puth's Instagram post.

David Foster

A producer who commented on Puth's Instagram post, telling him 'You're gonna kill it!'

Rickey Minor

A producer who addressed the challenge of performing the anthem live at the Super Bowl, noting the difficulty of rehearsing the sound of the crowd.

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What they’re saying

“The arrangement is everything for me. 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.”

— Charlie Puth (Movin'92.5)

“It's not a competition Charlie. Just make the words ring out. '…the land of the free and the home of the brave' We need to be reminded how fragile and our freedom is and how brave we must all be in our willing to fight to hold on to it!”

— Kenny Ortega, Director (Instagram)

“You're gonna kill it!”

— David Foster, Producer (Instagram)

“There's no way to rehearse the sound of the crowd … coming at you. You don't know where the first note begins.”

— Rickey Minor, Producer (ESPN)

What’s next

Puth's performance of the National Anthem at Super Bowl 60 on February 12, 2026 will be closely watched by music fans and the public.

The takeaway

Charlie Puth's personalized rendition of the National Anthem at Super Bowl 60 will showcase his vocal talents and ability to put a unique spin on a classic song, while honoring the significance and legacy of past iconic performances like Whitney Houston's.