The average length of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl might surprise you

OK, so you have your popcorn and beer and tea and pop (soda or music, whichever), and your popcorn beer, and you are ready for the big game (Super Bowl LVIII, of course!) to begin. Only before the game, you have three songs to sit through (or stand through - whatever you want to do). Those would be National Anthem, "American the Beautiful," and "Lift Every Voice and Sing." But then you ask yourself, "How long is this going to take?"

You want to know if you have enough time after the songs and before the kickoff to run to the bathroom, I assume. Plus, you might want to know exactly how long you have to, well...hold it during the songs. You do not want to be rude and leave during the performances. The looks you would get from family and friends would be embarrassing.

As far as the average length of time it takes to sing the National Anthem before Super Bowls since 1991 is 1 minute and 56 seconds. I point out 1991 because that was the year that Whitney Houston performed the tune and set the new standard of time one normally takes to sing the National Anthem. She was right at the average time since her performance.

The shortest Super Bowl National Anthem is super quick

The overall average is 1 minute and 43 seconds, but those days are long gone. Expect to sit through Reba McEntire - she is performing the song before Super Bowl LVIII - for about two minutes or so. I am sure she will do a lovely job.

The longest National Anthem was by Alicia Keys who took 2 minutes and 36 seconds in 2013. In fact, five of the 12 longest National Anthems have come since 2013. The shortest Anthem was done by Neil Diamond in 1987 who clocked in at just 62 seconds. Diamond had a game to watch, I guess.

For the three pre-game songs combined, you can expect about 10-15 minutes to go by between the singing and performers changing out. In other words, go to the bathroom before the songs are started and then go again after and before the game. You will thank me later.

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