After performing the opening theme for the past two seasons, Underwood returns in 2015 beginning with NBC’s first SNF broadcast of the 2015 NFL season as the defending NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys host the New York Giants. Coverage begins with Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET, and the opening theme continues each week of the season to kick off Sunday Night Football.
11 NFL players, who have accounted for 33 Pro Bowl selections, three Super Bowl rings, and seven first-round draft picks, will participate in the open (eight, denoted with an asterisk*, took part in a shoot this past June). Following is the complete list:

• New York Giants WR Odell Beckham, Jr.*
• Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant*
• Seattle Seahawks S Kam Chancellor*
• San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick
• Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck*
• Green Bay Packers LB Clay Matthews*
• Philadelphia Eagles RB DeMarco Murray*
• Arizona Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson*
• Denver Broncos DE DeMarcus Ware
• Houston Texans DE J.J. Watt
• Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson*

Players who participated in this year’s SNF shoot provided some commentary on the set:
Clay Matthews: “The fact that I’ve been invited four times to come back is truly an honor. I must be great on camera, or I live close by.”
Dez Bryant on his first SNF open shoot: “This has always been a dream.”
Antonio Brown: “You gotta love it – Sunday Night Football, Carrie Underwood, it doesn’t get any better.”
Patrick Peterson on his first SNF open shoot: “I’ve never been here before! So, I didn’t know what to expect.”
Odell Beckham, Jr.: “I’m definitely blessed to be a part of this.”
Antonio Brown as a stylist ties his shoes: “I’ve never had anyone tie my shoes!”
Kam Chancellor: “Modeling wasn’t in my career (before), but, you know, I’m trying my best.”
Andrew Luck: “I did not know I would be doing this shoot with Carrie, so, it was a bit of a surprise. I guess the cameras are rolling!”
Patrick Peterson: “It’s definitely fun being with other players and seeing how they interact with the camera.”
“Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” is set to the original Joan Jett song, “I Hate Myself for Loving You.”
Earlier this summer, NBC Sports Group produced for movie theatres a 2½-minute behind-the-scenes look at the making of this year’s SNF open. The cinema spot was viewed on more than 19,000 movie screens in theaters nationwide. To view the behind-the-scenes cinema spot, click here.
In addition, with Sunday Night Football kicking off its 10th season in September, NBC Sports enlisted a 10-year-old reporter to interview NFL stars at this year’s opening theme shoot. Click here for a link to the full piece.
SNF NO. 1 PRIMETIME PROGRAM ON TELEVISION FOR 4 YEARS RUNNING:
For the fourth consecutive September-May television season, NBC’s Sunday Night Football finished as the No. 1 show in primetime in household rating, viewership and the coveted Adult 18-49 demographic, based on live plus same day data from The Nielsen Company (September-May). This marks the only four times on record that a sports series has been the highest-rated and most-watched show of the primetime TV season. For the 2014-2015 primetime television season, Sunday Night Football ranked as the highest-rated (12.5 HH rating), most-watched show (21.3 million, viewers 2+), and the No. 1 program in the key Adults 18-49 demographic (7.7 rating).

“Smoke Break,” produced by Jay Joyce and written by Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, and Chris DeStefano, debuted this week at #1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Songs chart.

The digital single for “Smoke Break” is available for sale at http://smarturl.it/cusmokebreak. Fans can pre-order a physical copy of Underwood’s upcoming Storyteller album at Amazon.com here: http://smarturl.it/amzstoryteller.

Today, E! News gives viewers a look at the making of her new “Smoke Break” music video in the episode airing at 7 PM and 11 PM ET. In addition, fans can look to E! Online for the premiere of a special “Smoke Break” behind-the-scenes video in a 24-hour exclusive also debuting today.

In addition, fans can go to E! Online for the premiere of a special “Smoke Break” behind-the-scenes video in a 24-hour exclusive also debuting on Tuesday.

Watch the full music video for “Smoke Break”, directed by Randee St. Nicholas, who shot Underwood’s award-winning video for “Blown Away,” below:

Produced by Jay Joyce and written by Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, and Chris DeStefano, the digital single for “Smoke Break” is available for purchase at http://smarturl.it/cusmokebreak.

Fans can also pre-order a physical copy of Storyteller at Amazon.com.

Carrie Underwood in “Calia by Carrie Underwood”

Carrie recently announced her fifth studio album, Storyteller, will be in stores on October 23. The album’s first single, “Smoke Break,” made history at country radio this week by earning the highest one-week add total in the history of trade publication Country Aircheck, with 145 Mediabase adds and 159 total Billboard and Country Aircheck reporting stations on board for the song’s official airplay impact date.
The video for “Smoke Break” premiered this week as well and is viewable online at http://smarturl.it/CUsmokebreakvideo. Now available for purchase at http://smarturl.it/cuvideosb, the video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas, who also shot Underwood’s award-winning video for “Blown Away.”

The digital single for “Smoke Break” is available for sale at http://smarturl.it/cusmokebreak, and fans can pre-order a physical copy of Storyteller at Amazon.com here: http://smarturl.it/amzstoryteller.

Created in partnership with Carrie Underwood and DICK’S Sporting Goods, CALIA first launched in March 2015 catering to today’s woman who embraces an active lifestyle and demands more versatility from her wardrobe. With high-quality garments built to support the female body in motion, CALIA incorporates functional details and performance-driven fabrics into sophisticatedly feminine designs. The newest evolution of the line features apparel and accessories in bold, nature-inspired patterns and luxe, technical materials to help women transition both throughout their day and from fall to winter months.

“I am so excited to announce that we will be showing at New York Fashion Week and sharing this amazing new fall collection that we worked so hard on,” said Underwood. “Our motto for the CALIA brand, Stay the Path, becomes especially important in the winter months when colder weather, holiday indulgences and hectic schedules can leave us feeling less motivated. We designed this line to fit, flatter and function – no matter what the day brings – and my hope is that it gives women one more reason to get up and out.”

“Being part of New York Fashion Week marks a very exciting moment for the CALIA by Carrie Underwood brand,” said Lauren Hobart, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, DICK’S Sporting Goods. “The success of CALIA shows just how in-demand fashionable and functional fitness options are among women. In the newest evolution of the line, we’ve focused on adding depth and breadth as we continue to build a brand that is as multi-faceted as today’s active woman.”

For all the latest updates and an inside look at CALIA’s NYFW show, follow @CALIAbyCarrie on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. More information on the line is available at caliastudio.com.

Underwood’s music video for “Smoke Break” debuted earlier this week and is viewable online at http://smarturl.it/CUsmokebreakvideo. The video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas, who also shot Underwood’s award-winning video for “Blown Away.”

Fans can pre-order a physical copy of Storyteller at Amazon.com here: http://smarturl.it/amzstoryteller.

Tonight, as previously announced, Entertainment Tonight and ET Online will debut the music video for “Smoke Break,” directed by Randee St. Nicholas, who helmed Underwood’s award-winning video for “Blown Away.” Following a preview segment on the televised broadcast (check local listings), fans will be able to see the full video in a 24-hour exclusive on ET Online.

Over the weekend, Underwood teased the new video with a trailer, viewable online here.

“Smoke Break” is the first single from Underwood’s fifth album, Storyteller, set for release on October 23. Fans can pre-order a physical copy of Storyteller at Amazon.com here.

Produced by Jay Joyce (Little Big Town, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris) and written by Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, and Chris DeStefano, “Smoke Break” is currently available for sale here or streaming here.

As announced by Underwood on Thursday during a chat on her official Facebook page, “Smoke Break” is the first single from her upcoming fifth album, titled Storyteller, set for release on October 23. Fans can pre-order a physical copy of Storyteller at Amazon.com here.

“Smoke Break” was digitally delivered to country radio on Thursday for an official airplay impact date of August 24.