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Ultimately, the 2026 national anthem will be studied by future producers and performers as a benchmark for the challenges of the modern era. It serves as a reminder that in the spotlight of the Super Bowl, there is no such thing as a “safe” performance. Whether an artist is provocative or traditional, flawed or perfect, they are stepping into an arena where the audience is as much a part of the show as the person on the field. Charlie Puth delivered a performance that was, in many ways, exactly what the NFL wanted—a polished, high-quality, and glitch-free start to their biggest night. Whether the public is willing to accept that level of perfection as “real” is a question that suggests a much deeper shift in how we value human performance in a digital world.
