Every National Anthem Performance in Sports History, Ranked

At Super Bowl XXVI, Harry Connick Jr. brought New Orleans swing and big-band flair to the anthem, loosening it up with jazz phrasing and rhythmic playfulness. It was stylish and musical, clearly rooted in his home-town sound rather than stadium bombast.

Audiences were curious, then divided. Some enjoyed the creativity, others missed traditional grandeur. Critics respected the musicianship. The Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills 37–24, while Connick’s anthem became one of the more debated stylistic choices of the era.