Reba McEntire, the esteemed figure in country music, delivered the national anthem at Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday. Her performance resonated well, prompting a visible emotional response from at least one player on the sideline.
Following Post Malone’s rendition of “America the Beautiful” and Andra Day’s delivery of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” McEntire took the stage at Allegiant Stadium. Amidst the song, the CBS camera captured Chiefs All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones shedding tears, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes also displayed a hint of emotion towards the conclusion.
The anthem’s conclusion stirred a noteworthy gambling controversy due to the popular over/under bet on its duration, set at 90.5 seconds by BetMGM. McEntire seemed to breeze through the song, but she elongated the final lines, ceasing singing after approximately 95 seconds. Notably, this duration included McEntire inserting a second rendition of “the brave.”
John Ewing from BetMGM promptly clarified that the under bet had won, emphasizing that the second “the brave” would not be considered in the official length. According to Vegas standards, the song concluded once every lyric had been sung, placing McEntire’s initial “the brave” around the 88-second mark.
Despite this announcement, Ewing later declared that BetMGM would honor both over and under bets, thereby declaring everyone a winner. This unexpected turn added a unique twist to the gambling aspect of the anthem’s duration.
In essence, Reba McEntire’s rendition at Super Bowl LVIII, following notable performances by Post Malone and Andra Day, left a lasting impression. The emotional reactions from players and the subsequent betting controversy added layers of intrigue to the event. The decision by BetMGM to honor both sides of the bet contributed to an unexpected and inclusive outcome for those engaged in the gambling aspect of the national anthem’s duration.
