Puth explained that he pursued the gig by submitting a self-made audition, recording a demo for Roc Nation, and pitching it to NFL executives. He said Jay-Z loved the submission and that it ultimately reached NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who gave him the assignment.
A day before the performance, Puth posted a social media clip alongside Whitney Houston’s iconic 1991 Super Bowl XXV rendition, writing that he would sing the national anthem on Sunday while acknowledging that version’s subliminal influence.
Reaction on social media was mixed. Some viewers praised the performance as beautiful, while others criticized the production choices, with a number of comments targeting auto-tune and the overall arrangement of the anthem.
Beyond the moment, Puth has spoken about the challenge of the Star-Spangled Banner, describing it as one of the hardest songs to sing due to its wide vocal range. He noted that the piece spans a broad range, requiring a high level of control across multiple notes.
As the pregame national-anthem slot unfolds at Super Bowl LX, Puth joins a long list of artists who have performed the anthem at NFL’s flagship event, providing a moment of musical gravity ahead of the Seahawks vs. Patriots showdown.
