Pink Kicks Off for NBC

Wed., Aug. 30, 2006 9:45 PM PDT by Natalie Finn

Howard Cosell, Al Michaels, John Madden and...Pink?

The Grammy-winning pop star is set to become one of the more recognizable voices of the National Football League Sept. 10 when her new song, "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night," gets the party started before NBC's first Sunday Night Football broadcast.

Before that Colts-Giants game, however, a specially recorded version of the tune, "Waiting All Year for Opening Day," will precede the Sept. 7 NFL season opener on NBC. Sean "Diddy" Combs and Rascal Flatts are also set to perform before the Miami Dolphins take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at home.

Then "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night"--a reworked version of Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You" with, for instance, the words "All right, Sunday night, where are you?" taking the place of "Midnight, gettin' uptight, where are you?"--will take its place as NBC's regular lead-in anthem every weekend.

"This is something so different for me," Pink said in a statement. "It's like hearing yourself on the radio for the first time. I'm such a huge football fan that it's a great time."

Pink, whose "Get the Party Started" off her platinum-selling 2001 album M!ssundaztood has kicked off a number of NBA playoff games and pumped up many a stadium crowd, is a Philadelphia-area native and presumably an Eagles fan.

"We chose Pink as the signature voice because she is a tremendous talent with a crossover appeal that makes her relevant to all segments of our audience," Sunday Night Football producer Fred Gaudelli said. "And she's from Philly, so she knows what being a football fan is all about.

"This song sums up what Sunday Night Football is all about--the big game."

Meanwhile, the "Runaway Train" is on its way to ESPN.

The all-sports network has tapped Soul Asylum's new single, "Stand Up and Be Strong," from the band's latest album, The Silver Lining, to be the signature song for its 2006-07 college football coverage. Starting Sept. 2, pigskin fans are going to get their fill of the tune, which will be used for lead-ins, lead-outs, montages, weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, christenings, etc. for all three games scheduled to air each weekend on ESPN throughout the season.

Meanwhile, for its Monday Night Football coverage, though, ESPN is sticking with an oldie. Hank Williams Jr. has recorded an updated version of "Are You Ready for Some Football?" for the new season.