Photo gallery: Carrie Underwood, The Who and Queen Latifah at Super Bowl XLIV
Checotah native Carrie Underwood belts out the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XLIV Sunday in Miami, Fla. (Associated Press photos)
Unless you were an Indianapolis Colts fan with your heart set on a win, Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIV had quite a bit going for it.
The game was exciting and closer than the final score indicated, and it was hard not to root for the New Orleans Saints as they took home their first Super Bowl title. Many of the commercials were funny – I especially liked Denny’s screaming chickens for some reason I can’t quite identify – and the entertainers who performed at the event were pretty terrific.
Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood totally nailed her National Anthem performance, and Queen Latifah added a healthy helping of soul to the patriotic standard “America the Beautiful.” The Who didn’t have any new music to offer during halftime, but who could argue with their medley of such powerhouse hits.
According to a news release from CBS, the Saints 31-17 Super Bowl win over the Colts was watched by a Nielsen-estimated average of 106.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched program in television history, eclipsing the finale of M*A*S*H in 1983, which garnered 106 million viewers.
Here are some memorable Associated Press images of the Super Bowl XLIV entertainers.
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17909" title="toby keith - wayman tisdale tribute - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/16cabd25a81ed96a288b97f439bd8976.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="345" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/16cabd25a81ed96a288b97f439bd8976.jpg" /> <strong>Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith, right, performs with the Wayman Tisdale band at halftime of the men's OU-Texas basketball game Saturday at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Band member Tom Braxton is at left and Mark Harper is at center. The game was game dedicated to the memory of late Sooners star Wayman Tisdale. (Photos by Steve Sisney/<em>The Oklahoman</em>) </strong> The University of Oklahoma paid tribute to Wayman Tisdale during Saturday's home men's basketball game pitting the Sooners against the University of Texas Longhorns. Tisdale was an All-American basketball player at OU and went on to a successful pro career in the NBA. Later, he embarked on a standout second career as a jazz bassist. Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith performed his new song "Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)" with members of Tisdale's band during halftime of the game. Keith wrote the song shortly after Tisdale's death in May after a long battle with cancer; Tisdale was only 44 years old. OU won Saturday 80-71. Kudos to<em> The Oklahoman</em> photog Steve Sisney's for capturing several poignant images of the tribute. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17910" title="tisdale family - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/a5a7741d3efd8b9093d6c404e5a2a20a.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="341" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/a5a7741d3efd8b9093d6c404e5a2a20a.jpg" /> <strong>Joe Castiglione, vice president of athletic programs at the University of Oklahoma, presents a basketball signed by the Sooner team to Regina Tisdale, widow of Wayman Tisdale, before the game. </strong> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17911" title="deborah tisdale - tisdale tribute - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/287c7b810d4ec6c6c9b6df88c48c0ef6.jpg" alt="" width="471" height="512" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/287c7b810d4ec6c6c9b6df88c48c0ef6.jpg" /> <strong>Deborah Tisdale, mother of Wayman Tisdale, applauds during halftime ceremonies honoring her son.</strong> <strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17912" title="tisdale children - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/5cd403fd86804d5567b70657505e1f4b.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="409" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/5cd403fd86804d5567b70657505e1f4b.jpg" /></strong> <strong>Two of Wayman Tisdale's children, Tiffany, 21, and Wayman, 18, watch a clip from a documentary of their father's life during halftime.</strong> -BAM
Carrie Underwood performs the National Anthem in front of the color guard.
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17909" title="toby keith - wayman tisdale tribute - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/16cabd25a81ed96a288b97f439bd8976.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="345" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/16cabd25a81ed96a288b97f439bd8976.jpg" /> <strong>Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith, right, performs with the Wayman Tisdale band at halftime of the men's OU-Texas basketball game Saturday at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Band member Tom Braxton is at left and Mark Harper is at center. The game was game dedicated to the memory of late Sooners star Wayman Tisdale. (Photos by Steve Sisney/<em>The Oklahoman</em>) </strong> The University of Oklahoma paid tribute to Wayman Tisdale during Saturday's home men's basketball game pitting the Sooners against the University of Texas Longhorns. Tisdale was an All-American basketball player at OU and went on to a successful pro career in the NBA. Later, he embarked on a standout second career as a jazz bassist. Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith performed his new song "Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)" with members of Tisdale's band during halftime of the game. Keith wrote the song shortly after Tisdale's death in May after a long battle with cancer; Tisdale was only 44 years old. OU won Saturday 80-71. Kudos to<em> The Oklahoman</em> photog Steve Sisney's for capturing several poignant images of the tribute. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17910" title="tisdale family - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/a5a7741d3efd8b9093d6c404e5a2a20a.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="341" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/a5a7741d3efd8b9093d6c404e5a2a20a.jpg" /> <strong>Joe Castiglione, vice president of athletic programs at the University of Oklahoma, presents a basketball signed by the Sooner team to Regina Tisdale, widow of Wayman Tisdale, before the game. </strong> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17911" title="deborah tisdale - tisdale tribute - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/287c7b810d4ec6c6c9b6df88c48c0ef6.jpg" alt="" width="471" height="512" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/287c7b810d4ec6c6c9b6df88c48c0ef6.jpg" /> <strong>Deborah Tisdale, mother of Wayman Tisdale, applauds during halftime ceremonies honoring her son.</strong> <strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17912" title="tisdale children - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/5cd403fd86804d5567b70657505e1f4b.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="409" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/5cd403fd86804d5567b70657505e1f4b.jpg" /></strong> <strong>Two of Wayman Tisdale's children, Tiffany, 21, and Wayman, 18, watch a clip from a documentary of their father's life during halftime.</strong> -BAM
Carrie seemed to be channeling Elvis just a little in her snazzy white pantsuit.
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17909" title="toby keith - wayman tisdale tribute - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/16cabd25a81ed96a288b97f439bd8976.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="345" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/16cabd25a81ed96a288b97f439bd8976.jpg" /> <strong>Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith, right, performs with the Wayman Tisdale band at halftime of the men's OU-Texas basketball game Saturday at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Band member Tom Braxton is at left and Mark Harper is at center. The game was game dedicated to the memory of late Sooners star Wayman Tisdale. (Photos by Steve Sisney/<em>The Oklahoman</em>) </strong> The University of Oklahoma paid tribute to Wayman Tisdale during Saturday's home men's basketball game pitting the Sooners against the University of Texas Longhorns. Tisdale was an All-American basketball player at OU and went on to a successful pro career in the NBA. Later, he embarked on a standout second career as a jazz bassist. Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith performed his new song "Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)" with members of Tisdale's band during halftime of the game. Keith wrote the song shortly after Tisdale's death in May after a long battle with cancer; Tisdale was only 44 years old. OU won Saturday 80-71. Kudos to<em> The Oklahoman</em> photog Steve Sisney's for capturing several poignant images of the tribute. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17910" title="tisdale family - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/a5a7741d3efd8b9093d6c404e5a2a20a.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="341" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/a5a7741d3efd8b9093d6c404e5a2a20a.jpg" /> <strong>Joe Castiglione, vice president of athletic programs at the University of Oklahoma, presents a basketball signed by the Sooner team to Regina Tisdale, widow of Wayman Tisdale, before the game. </strong> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17911" title="deborah tisdale - tisdale tribute - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/287c7b810d4ec6c6c9b6df88c48c0ef6.jpg" alt="" width="471" height="512" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/287c7b810d4ec6c6c9b6df88c48c0ef6.jpg" /> <strong>Deborah Tisdale, mother of Wayman Tisdale, applauds during halftime ceremonies honoring her son.</strong> <strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17912" title="tisdale children - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/5cd403fd86804d5567b70657505e1f4b.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="409" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/5cd403fd86804d5567b70657505e1f4b.jpg" /></strong> <strong>Two of Wayman Tisdale's children, Tiffany, 21, and Wayman, 18, watch a clip from a documentary of their father's life during halftime.</strong> -BAM
Queen Latifah sings “America the Beautiful” prior to the big game.
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17909" title="toby keith - wayman tisdale tribute - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/16cabd25a81ed96a288b97f439bd8976.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="345" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/16cabd25a81ed96a288b97f439bd8976.jpg" /> <strong>Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith, right, performs with the Wayman Tisdale band at halftime of the men's OU-Texas basketball game Saturday at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Band member Tom Braxton is at left and Mark Harper is at center. The game was game dedicated to the memory of late Sooners star Wayman Tisdale. (Photos by Steve Sisney/<em>The Oklahoman</em>) </strong> The University of Oklahoma paid tribute to Wayman Tisdale during Saturday's home men's basketball game pitting the Sooners against the University of Texas Longhorns. Tisdale was an All-American basketball player at OU and went on to a successful pro career in the NBA. Later, he embarked on a standout second career as a jazz bassist. Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith performed his new song "Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)" with members of Tisdale's band during halftime of the game. Keith wrote the song shortly after Tisdale's death in May after a long battle with cancer; Tisdale was only 44 years old. OU won Saturday 80-71. Kudos to<em> The Oklahoman</em> photog Steve Sisney's for capturing several poignant images of the tribute. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17910" title="tisdale family - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/a5a7741d3efd8b9093d6c404e5a2a20a.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="341" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/a5a7741d3efd8b9093d6c404e5a2a20a.jpg" /> <strong>Joe Castiglione, vice president of athletic programs at the University of Oklahoma, presents a basketball signed by the Sooner team to Regina Tisdale, widow of Wayman Tisdale, before the game. </strong> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17911" title="deborah tisdale - tisdale tribute - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/287c7b810d4ec6c6c9b6df88c48c0ef6.jpg" alt="" width="471" height="512" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/287c7b810d4ec6c6c9b6df88c48c0ef6.jpg" /> <strong>Deborah Tisdale, mother of Wayman Tisdale, applauds during halftime ceremonies honoring her son.</strong> <strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17912" title="tisdale children - steve sisney" src="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/5cd403fd86804d5567b70657505e1f4b.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="409" imagescaler="http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/wp-content/imagescaler/5cd403fd86804d5567b70657505e1f4b.jpg" /></strong> <strong>Two of Wayman Tisdale's children, Tiffany, 21, and Wayman, 18, watch a clip from a documentary of their father's life during halftime.</strong> -BAM
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