Carrie Underwood Debunks ‘Sunday Night Football’ Salary Rumors

Too Much Country on 'American Idol'? Carrie Underwood Ensures That Won't Be the Case

The 2024-25 NFL season marks Carrie Underwood’s 12th year to perform the Sunday Night Football theme song. Making her debut in 2013, hearing the American Idol winner belt “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” has become a cherished weekly tradition for football enthusiasts. However, multiple outlets have reported that Underwood receives a shocking $1 million every time the song plays. Many online have balked at that figure, but the “Cowboy Casanova” singer has insisted that it’s far from accurate.

“It’s Pretty Pro Bono”

With the NFL season in full swing, fans can’t wait to see Carrie Underwood on their screens every Sunday night. However, her return has also reignited rumors that she made a total of $18 million from the gig in 2023.

“She makes more for 10 seconds worth of singing than Brock Purdy makes per year,” one user wrote on X/Twitter. “Let that sink in.”

If $18 million a year sounds unbelievable to you, just know that Carrie Underwood agrees. The “Blown Away” singer resoundingly shot down that figure during a May 2023 interview on The Howard Stern Show.

“Is it true, it’s 18 million dollars a year?” Stern asked Underwood. Confused, she replied, “For me? … No. It’s pretty pro bono.”

That’s not to say she wouldn’t mind the rumors being true. “No, I wish. That’d be great. That’d be awesome,” the 16-time ACM Award winner said. “[Google] steered you wrong there.”

In other words, Underwood said, she does it purely for the experience. “It is an honor… like I grew up watching football and just to kind of have a small part of it… I’ve had players come up to me, and they’re like ‘you get me revved up’ and it’s really cool,” she said.

Carrie Underwood Reaches Impressive Milestone With New Single

After teasing it for nearly a year, Carrie Underwood and Cody Johnson released their first-ever collaboration, “I’m Gonna Love You,” on Sept. 27. This week, the highly-anticipated single reached the top of the Country Digital Song Sales chart—giving Underwood her 10th No. 1 hit in that category.

“I’m Gonna Love You” also opened at No. 21 on this week’s Country Airplay chart. This marks the “Before He Cheats” hitmaker’s 50th track to make that list.