Country music
FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2018, file photo, former Kansas City Chiefs player Tony Gonzalez poses with fans in the stands after he was inducted to the Chiefs Hall fo Fame, at halftime of the team's NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Mo. After 17 seasons in the NFL and several years as a broadcaster, Gonzalez stepped away from the studio this season to pursue acting. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)
Darius Rucker to sing national anthem at Bills-Dolphins

By The Associated Press Sep. 17, 2021 11:17 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 7, 2019, file photo, Scotty McCreery arrives at the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. A decade ago, McCreery won “American Idol.” At age 17. So the country music star and huge NFL fan knows all about the pressure players face. Maybe even more so: Remember, as well as he might have performed on stage, fans across the country were casting votes for who would win the competition. Not exactly something in McCreery's control. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
Country star Scotty McCreery knows pressure NFL players face

By Barry Wilner Sep. 14, 2021 02:35 AM EDT

This photo provided by Allister Ann shows Chase Rice waitings backstage before opening for Garth Brooks at Ford Field in Detroit, on Feb. 22, 2020. Like many young football players growing up in North Carolina, Chase Rice had his sights set on the NFL. Then the linebacker who tore up the ACC in 2006 tore up his left ankle in the season opener as a junior. Though he returned in 2007, Rice already knew pro football player was not going to be on his resume.(Allister Ann via AP)
Chasing Dreams: From UNC linebacker to country music star

By Barry Wilner Apr. 19, 2021 02:29 AM EDT

Raymond James Stadium rises in the distance ahead of Super Bowl 55 Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The venue is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2/7/2021

Feb. 06, 2021 03:06 PM EST

Singer Jazmine Sullivan poses for a portrait in Rydal, Pa., on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 to promote her EP "Heaux Tales." (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jazmine Sullivan talks Super Bowl gig and Whitney Houston

By Mesfin Fekadu Feb. 03, 2021 11:11 AM EST

FILE - Dolly Parton performs in concert on May 27, 2014, in Knoxville, Tenn. The Grammy-winning legend's 1980's hit "9 to 5" has been flipped by Squarespace, the company that helps users build and host their own websites, for a Super Bowl commercial debuting Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. Oscar winner Damien Chazelle of "La La Land" fame directed the spot. (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP, File)
Dolly Parton on Super Bowl commercial and COVID-19 vaccine

By Mesfin Fekadu Feb. 02, 2021 02:06 PM EST

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys 11/26/2020

Nov. 26, 2020 04:08 PM EST

New York Giants' Logan Ryan (23) celebrates with teammates after the Giants forced a turnover on downs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Meet QBs-turned-DJs Peyton and Eli Manning

By The Associated Press Nov. 06, 2020 12:53 PM EST

A man walks by seats filled by cardboard cutouts before an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans 9/20/2020

Sep. 20, 2020 11:32 AM EDT

FILE - Little Richard performs during halftime at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. on Dec. 31, 2004. ESPN is changing their “Monday Night Football” theme song. The season will feature a new version of Little Richard's hit “Rip It Up,” featuring new instrumentals and backup vocals from the Virginia-based band Butcher Brown. Hank Williams Jr. had sung the theme song for years in a version of his hit “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight." (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Little Richard song to introduce 'Monday Night Football'

By The Associated Press Sep. 11, 2020 02:49 PM EDT

Confused fans rip Garth Brooks for wearing 'Sanders' jersey

Feb. 28, 2020 03:23 PM EST
DETROIT (AP) — Leave it to the internet to interpret Garth Brooks wearing a Barry Sanders jersey during a concert in Detroit as a political endorsement of a...

Entertainer Jay-Z arrives for the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
A-Rod: Super Bowl should be in Miami every year

By Mesfin Fekadu Feb. 02, 2020 04:50 PM EST

FILE - In this April 15, 2018, file photo, Kenny Chesney performs "Get Along" at the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, in Las Vegas. Through his song “Boys of Fall,” Kenny Chesney has a direct connection to this Super Bowl. The song has become something of an anthem for high school football, celebrating the teamwork and dedication it takes to play the sport _ really on any level. It was written by Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Beathard's son Casey, who has penned several hits for the country superstar. Beathard's son, C.J., is a backup quarterback for the 49ers.(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Chesney's "Boys of Fall" has extra meaning at Super Bowl

By Barry Wilner Jan. 31, 2020 03:29 PM EST

FILE - This Feb. 1, 1993 file photo shows Pop superstar Michael Jackson performing during the halftime show at the Super Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Regardless of your musical tastes, it seems the Super Bowl halftime show has gone there. From the sublime (Tony Bennett) to the ridiculous ( Janet Jackson's ``uncovering''), and from Michael Jackson's moonwalks to U2's majestic remembrance of the 911 victims, the halftime presentations have drawn nearly as much attention as the NFL championship game itself. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy, File)
From marching bands to The Boss to Lady Gaga at halftime

By Barry Wilner Jan. 29, 2020 03:38 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2009, file photo, Peter Fonda, poses atop a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Glendale, Calif. Fonda, the son of a Hollywood legend who became a movie star in his own right both writing and starring in counterculture classics like "Easy Rider," has died. His family says in a statement that Fonda died Aug. 16, 2019, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 79. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019

By Bernard Mcghee Dec. 23, 2019 10:13 AM EST

FILE - In this May 15, 2019, file photo, Juice WRLD performs in concert during his "Death Race for Love Tour" at The Skyline Stage at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. The Chicago-area rapper, whose real name is Jarad A. Higgins, was pronounced dead Dec. 8 after a "medical emergency'' at Chicago's Midway International Airport, according to authorities. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File)
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019

By Bernard Mcghee Dec. 16, 2019 12:47 PM EST

Washington Capitals' T.J. Oshie (77) celebrates his goal with teammate Chandler Stephenson (18) and Jakub Vrana (13) of Czech Republic during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Ready for some hockey? Green Day song may be new NHL anthem

By Stephen Whyno Sep. 30, 2019 11:36 AM EDT

This July 25, 2019, photo provided by Jon-Paul Bruno shows Shannon Haley and Ryan Michaels shooting a music video at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. NFL players’ dreams usually center on scoring touchdowns and making game-saving tackles. Then they watch videos of their performances. It’s not that much different for musicians, particularly the husband/wife country duo of Shannon Haley and Ryan Michaels. Their big play occurred in Levi’s Stadium, home of their longtime favorite team, the 49ers. (Jon-Paul Bruno via AP)
Country music duo, 49ers combine on video 'Hail Mary'

By Barry Wilner Sep. 27, 2019 03:24 AM EDT

Country singer Tim McGraw before the first half an NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9/8/2019

Sep. 08, 2019 02:48 PM EDT

In this photo provided by NBC Sports, Joan Jett, left, and Carrie Underwood pose with a 100th anniversary NFL football. NBC's Sunday Night Football open will return to the original Waiting All Day for Sunday Night song, but this time Carrie Underwood will be joined by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Joan Jett. Her band, the Blackhearts, also perform in the open, which features NFL stars. (Virginia Sherwood/NBC Sports via AP)
Joan Jett, Underwood to perform 'Sunday Night Football' open

By Joe Reedy Aug. 20, 2019 02:10 PM EDT