The Only Two Artists Who Have Sung the National Anthem Twice at the Super Bowl

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In the decades-long history of Super Bowl national anthem performances, Billy Joel holds a distinction that no other artist can claim. He is the only solo performer to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” twice at America’s biggest sporting event. While other artists have performed multiple anthems, Joel remains the only performer to deliver two complete solo renditions, a testament to his exceptional talent, broad appeal, and the NFL’s trust in him.

Billy Joel first sang the national anthem at Super Bowl XXIII on January 22, 1989, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, where the San Francisco 49ers faced the Cincinnati Bengals. Eighteen years later, he returned for Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, for the matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears. His second performance was accompanied by Marlee Matlin, who provided American Sign Language interpretation, marking her second of three ASL appearances at Super Bowl anthem performances.

The Aaron Neville Distinction

To fully understand why Billy Joel’s achievement is unique, it’s important to note that R&B legend Aaron Neville has also participated in two Super Bowl anthem performances. However, the circumstances of his second appearance make Joel’s record singular.

Neville first performed the anthem solo at Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990, at the Superdome in his hometown of New Orleans, where the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos. His angelic tenor voice delivered a memorable rendition that showcased his exceptional vocal abilities.

Sixteen years later, Neville returned for Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006, at Ford Field in Detroit. However, this performance was fundamentally different from his first. R&B singers Aaron Neville and Detroit native Aretha Franklin, accompanied by pianist Dr. John and a 150-member choir, performed the national anthem as part of a pre-game tribute to New Orleans, a nine-time Super Bowl host city then in the midst of efforts to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The national anthem was performed in American Sign Language by Angela LaGuardia, a teacher at Michigan School for the Deaf.

This group performance was designed as a tribute rather than a traditional solo anthem. The collaboration between Neville, Franklin, and Dr. John represented the spirit of New Orleans and its musical heritage during a time when the city was still recovering from one of America’s worst natural disasters. While deeply moving and historically significant, it was not a solo performance, leaving Billy Joel as the only artist to perform two complete solo renditions of the national anthem at the Super Bowl.

Why Billy Joel?

The NFL’s decision to invite Billy Joel back for a second solo performance speaks volumes about his reliability, professionalism, and universal appeal. The Super Bowl anthem is one of the most high-pressure performances in entertainment, witnessed by over 100 million viewers and requiring a vocalist who can deliver a powerful, respectful rendition in a massive stadium environment, often with challenging weather conditions.

Billy Joel represents a rare combination of qualities that make him ideal for this moment. His voice is strong and clear, capable of cutting through the noise of a packed stadium without electronic manipulation or vocal gymnastics. His performance style is dignified and respectful. The national anthem is not an opportunity for personal interpretation or showmanship, it requires an artist who understands the gravity of the moment. Joel’s approach to music has always been about serving the song itself, making him a natural choice for this patriotic performance.

Perhaps most importantly, Joel possesses broad demographic appeal that few artists can match. The Super Bowl audience is among the most diverse in television, spanning all ages, regions, and musical preferences. Joel’s catalog includes songs that have become part of the American cultural fabric. “Piano Man,” “Uptown Girl,” “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” and “New York State of Mind” are recognizable across multiple generations. Parents who grew up with his music in the 1970s and 1980s share it with their children, creating a multi-generational fan base that continues to expand.

Joel’s music is also notably apolitical and uncontroversial. His songs focus on universal themes: love, loss, nostalgia, working-class struggles, and the experiences of everyday people. This broad appeal makes him a safe and popular choice for an event that aims to unite rather than divide. In an era of social media scrutiny and instant criticism, the NFL can trust Joel to deliver a performance that will be well-received across the political and cultural spectrum.

A Career Built on Storytelling and Authenticity

Billy Joel’s career spans more than five decades, with album sales exceeding 150 million records worldwide. He released his first album, Cold Spring Harbor, in 1971, but it was Piano Man (1973) that established him as a major artist. The title track, drawn from his experience playing in a Los Angeles piano bar, became his signature song and introduced his gift for storytelling through music.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Joel released a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums. The Stranger (1977) produced hits like “Just the Way You Are,” “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” and “Only the Good Die Young.” 52nd Street (1978) became the first album to be certified platinum on the new compact disc format and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. Glass Houses (1980) showed Joel’s ability to rock, while An Innocent Man (1983) paid tribute to the R&B and doo-wop music of his youth.

What sets Joel apart from many of his contemporaries is his ability to craft songs that connect with ordinary people. “Allentown” addresses the struggles of working-class Americans in declining industrial cities. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” offers a rapid-fire history lesson covering events from 1949 to 1989. “The Downeaster ‘Alexa'” tells the story of struggling Long Island fishermen. This authenticity and relatability have earned him a loyal fan base that crosses generational, economic, and regional boundaries.

Joel has won six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013, and was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2014. Despite retiring from recording new pop music after River of Dreams (1993), Joel has maintained a robust touring schedule. In 2014, he began a monthly residency at Madison Square Garden that continues to sell out, demonstrating his enduring popularity and live performance abilities.

The Significance of the Record

The fact that only one artist in Super Bowl history has performed the anthem as a solo artist twice reflects how carefully the NFL approaches this moment. With hundreds of qualified performers to choose from, the league typically prefers to give different artists the opportunity to participate in this iconic American tradition. The Super Bowl anthem has featured everyone from pop superstars like Lady Gaga and Pink to opera singers like Renée Fleming, country legends like Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire to R&B icons like Whitney Houston and Beyoncé.

A Record That May Stand Forever

As the Super Bowl continues to be one of the most-watched events in American television, drawing over 100 million viewers annually, the list of anthem performers grows each year. Artists recognize the anthem performance as a career-defining moment, an opportunity to reach the largest audience they may ever have. The NFL receives countless requests and pitches from artists and their representatives hoping for the honor.

Given this reality, it seems increasingly unlikely that another artist will be invited to perform the anthem solo twice. The NFL’s preference for variety, combined with the deep roster of talented performers available, makes repeat solo performances highly improbable. Billy Joel’s record may stand as one of those rare achievements in popular culture that remains unmatched not because it can’t be replicated, but because the circumstances that allowed it to happen may never align again.

Billy Joel’s distinction as the only solo performer of the national anthem at two Super Bowls cements his place in both Super Bowl history and American popular culture. His performances have been witnessed by hundreds of millions of viewers combined, delivered under the immense pressure of one of television’s biggest moments. This singular achievement reflects not just his vocal abilities and musical legacy but also his professionalism, his universal appeal, and his unique ability to unite audiences across generations and backgrounds through the power of music.

Was Billy Joel’s performance the best? Of course not that honor I think most people would give to Whitney Houston. And it’s quite possible she was invited back and declined, but we will never know. In the end, there are very few musical artists that have such a broad appeal as a Billy Joel. And if he were asked again to do it, he would probably rock the house because the guy can still sing his heart out. Ask anyone who’s seen him in the past 5 years. He’s dealing with some physical problems right now, which led him to cancel his performance schedule, but hopefully he’ll be back. What better comeback than to do it again for a third time.

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