Charlie Puth Addresses National Anthem Criticism from Super Bowl, Promises a Unique Arrangement
Charlie Puth; Link Lauren.
Credit:
Monica Schipper/WireImage; Link Lauren/TikTok
NEED TO KNOW
- Less than a day after announcing his Super Bowl LX performance, singer-songwriter Charlie Puth faced backlash.
- The soon-to-be father responded to one critic, a political commentator.
- Super Bowl LX will air live on NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Charlie Puth is defending his invitation to perform at Super Bowl LX amid significant online criticism.
The 34-year-old artist joins Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones on the pregame lineup announced by the NFL. Known for hits like “Attention” and the Grammy-nominated “See You Again” with rapper Wiz Khalifa, Puth will perform the national anthem at the event on February 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California.
Charlie Puth; Brandi Carlile; Coco Jones.
JC Olivera/Variety via Getty; Frazer Harrison/Getty; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Critics expressed disappointment at Puth’s selection, comparing him unfavorably to past national anthem performers such as Beyoncé, Billy Joel, and Lady Gaga. Political commentator Link Lauren remarked, “Man, we’ve fallen from when Whitney Houston sang at the Super Bowl. Charlie Puth? He’s not gonna give us vocals I’m afraid,” on social media.
In response, Puth, who holds eight platinum records, addressed the criticism directly. “I’ll never claim to be as good of a singer as Whitney Houston ever was,” he replied. “But I assure you we’re putting a really special arrangement together—in D major. It’ll be one of my best vocal performances.”
Puth has previously cited Houston as an inspiration, having praised her 1991 Super Bowl performance in 2020. At that time, he tweeted, “Listen to the Star-Spangled Banner sung by Whitney Houston at the 1991 Super Bowl right now.”
Charlie Puth performing in Washington D.C. on March 20; Whitney Houston performing the national anthem in 1991 at Super Bowl XXV.
Taylor Hill/WireImage; George Rose/Getty I
Before the criticism began, Puth announced his Super Bowl performance with a humorous Instagram video. In the clip, he posed a question to viewers about the difficulty of singing the national anthem, illustrating his point with analogies related to football.
Puth elaborated on the anthem’s vocal challenges, noting its extensive range that exceeds typical songs. He emphasized, “The Star-Spangled Banner goes from a low D to a high D, plus five more notes, all the way up to a very high A.”
Despite the backlash regarding his fame versus vocal prowess, the NFL has expressed confidence in Puth’s selection. An official statement described him as “one of the industry’s most consistent hitmakers and sought-after collaborators across multiple genres.”
Charlie Puth performs during the Global Citizen Festival: Amazonia at Mangueirao stadium in Belem, Brazil on Nov. 1, 2025.
Alexandre Schneider/Getty
This year’s criticism of the NFL’s Super Bowl performers has been notable, prompting repeated defenses from the league. Following the announcement of Bad Bunny as the headlining act for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, the NFL faced significant backlash, particularly from right-wing commentators.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has defended Bad Bunny amid the controversy, stating, “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism,” acknowledging the challenges of satisfying such a vast audience.
The lineup remains unchanged as both Puth and Bad Bunny prepare to take the stage, alongside Brandi Carlile, who will perform “America the Beautiful,” and R&B artist Coco Jones, who will present “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Super Bowl LX is set to air live on NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock on February 8, 2026.
