Whether they're watching a Cincinnati Bengals game or cheering for some other irrelevant team, NFL fans have been tuning in to watch "Monday Night Football" for over 50 years.
Games first aired on ABC in 1970, but in 2006 the NFL switched to ABC's sister network, ESPN, where the coveted Monday night slot has stayed since. Of course, no NFL broadcast is complete without an opening theme song.
So, who sings that stunning rendition of the "Monday Night Football" theme song now? And who sang it in the past? And which other tunes did the network test out before landing on the Phil Collins cover?
Here's everything you need to know.
Who sings the 'Monday Night Football' theme song?
Chris Stapleton and Cindy Blackman Santana, with the new addition of Ludacris, perform a reimagined version of Phil Collins'
"In the Air Tonight" for "Monday Night Football."
The song originally debuted during the 2023-24 NFL season with Snoop Dogg being part of the trio.
Who is the rapper in the 'Monday Night Football' song?
Ludacris is the newest performer featured in ESPN's "Monday Night Football" opening sequence. The Grammy-winning rapper appears at the start of the intro before the song transitions into the signature "In the Air Tonight" drum sequence.
Who was the original singer of the 'Monday Night Football' theme song?
Country rocker Hank Williams Jr. was the original performer of the "Monday Night Football" theme song. In 1989, ABC debuted the singer's reworked version of his "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" single, aptly called "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night."
The tune earned Williams Jr. four Emmys and remained the opening track for over two decades, even after the program shifted from being hosted by ABC to ESPN.
What happened to the original 'Monday Night Football' theme song?
In 2011, ESPN booted Hank Williams Jr. and his theme song off the Monday night slot after the country singer made controversial comments about former president Barack Obama. He referred to Hitler when talking about Obama on air during "Fox & Friends," a morning show on the Fox News Channel.
The network tried out different versions of "Heavy Action," a jingle synonymous with the Monday night spot, for a few years. But it then brought Williams Jr.'s song back in 2017 and kept it as the fanfare until 2019.
Who else has sung the 'Monday Night Football' theme song?
In 2020, ESPN switched things up after over three decades of "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night" and introduced rock legend Little Richard's "Rip It Up," performed by Virginia-based band Butcher Brown.
Two years later, the theme song switched yet again to a remixed version of the classic “Heavy Action" melody, which had been featured as part of the broadcast's music catalog since 1976.
Then, in September 2023, the theme song landed on its current tune: "In The Air Tonight," performed by Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg and Cindy Blackman Santana. Now, Ludacris has taken over Snoop Dogg's role.
How to watch 'Monday Night Football'
"Monday Night Football" airs at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN each week, with many games also airing on ABC.
Watch 'Monday Night Football' on ESPN+
Fans can stream games on Watch ESPN and ESPN+. Anyone who subscribes to a streaming service with live TV can also stream live.
Contributing: Grace Tucker and Lori Comstock.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who sings the 'Monday Night Football' theme song? See 2026 performers
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