Finally! While football fans have been waiting all day (and since last January) for the return of 'Sunday Night Football,' country music fans have been waiting patiently for Carrie Underwood to make her 'SNF' debut!

The singer, who grabbed the baton from fellow country singer Faith Hill, is now belting out the 'Waiting All Day for Sunday Night' theme song each week, and she has put her own unique stamp on the iconic song.

The first 'Sunday Night Football' game of the 2013 season -- an NFC East showdown between the New York Giants and their rivals the Dallas Cowboys -- took place Sunday night (Sept. 8), and the festivities began with Underwood and her big, bold voice. Her version of the track features a different arrangement and tone, and it was decidedly Carrie! She sure made it her own, as her rendition totally rocked.

The broadcast opened with a previously recorded, mock Underwood concert spliced with footage of key NFL players like Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers, to name a few. But Underwood was strutting her stuff and in command. She was no mere window dressing, and could not be mistaken for a cheerleader.

If you had any doubts that Carrie Underwood would do her genre or 'SNF' proud, those were effectively erased by the first spot of the season! She was the absolute right person for this critical job.

Until next week...

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