Chris Stapleton had the honor of starting the event by singing the National Anthem before the kickoff of Super Bowl LVII, and the country crooner’s rendition did not disappoint.

The Super Bowl halftime show and National Anthem performances are often more anticipated than the game itself, and Chris Stapleton‘s performance in 2023  was no exception.

As Stapleton sang the beloved Anthem, cameras scanned the sidelines where players stood with their hands over their hearts, waiting to take the field.

Tears were seen in the eyes of players and staff from both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Perhaps the most touching moment was when the camera settled on the face of Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, who made no effort to hide the tears running down his face.

Social media immediately erupted with posts from fans and some of Stapleton’s fellow musicians praising his performance, with most admitting that the song brought them to tears as well.

Many compared Chris’s performance to that of Whitney Houston, who most would argue had delivered the best rendition up to that point.

Chris Stapleton might’ve just sang my favorite Super Bowl rendition of the National Anthem (Whitney Houston aside) pic.twitter.com/GJUNkDQllC

— Jared Christopher (@JaredLChris) February 12, 2023

Nick Sirianni is all of us listening to Chris Stapleton right now. Absolutely gorgeous rendition. #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/Yrk8DlrGBh

— Kristen Rodgers (@KristenERodgers) February 12, 2023

Chris Stapleton just put on the best National Anthem performance at the #SuperBowlLVII since Whitney Houston in 1991!

Tears in my eyes! So proud to be an American 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ru4d8ctXbh

— The Beer Legend (@thebeerlegend) February 12, 2023

Chris Stapleton became only the ninth country singer in the Super Bowl’s then-57-year history to sing the National Anthem.

Charley Pride (1974), Garth Brooks (1993), Faith Hill (2000), Dixie Chicks (2003), Carrie Underwood (2010), Luke Bryan (2017), Eric Church (2021), and Mickey Guyton (2022) all previously had the honor. Reba McEntire performed the Anthem the year after Stapleton in 2024.

Two years later, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce (who played in Super Bowl LVII) said Stapleton’s performance was the all-time best. He said, “There’s just no one even close” to beating his rendition.

Watch Chris Stapleton’s tear-jerking performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the video below.