The Zac Brown Band is stepping into a prestigious spotlight, joining the ranks of icons like Carrie Underwood and Lenny Kravitz.
The Grammy-winning southern rock ensemble has been tapped to perform the opening theme for NBC’s “Sunday Night Baseball.” Their debut is set for Sunday, April 12, when the Atlanta Braves face off against the Cleveland Guardians.
“It’s truly humbling to be mentioned alongside artists of that caliber,” Zac Brown shared via email. “We’ve dedicated our careers to forging genuine connections through our music, and an opportunity like this validates that our reach is far greater than we initially dreamed.”
For this project, the band delivered a fresh, high-energy interpretation of Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s classic track, “Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression Part 2.”
Tripp Dixon, creative director for NBC Sports, noted that the song was a natural choice due to its iconic organ riff and the evocative opening line: “Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends.” Given that Major League Baseball is affectionately known as “The Show,” the thematic alignment was undeniable.
“Those elements clicked immediately,” Dixon explained. “It felt like the perfect foundation to build this entire concept around.”
The production, filmed in Milwaukee last month, follows the tradition established by Underwood’s long-running “Sunday Night Football” intro and Kravitz’s work for “Sunday Night Basketball.”
Reflecting on the final cut, Brown expressed immense pride: “It was a surreal experience. We poured everything into that performance, and seeing it fused with such polished visuals and production gave the song a completely new identity. NBC Sports really understood the energy we wanted to capture.”
The collaboration grew from a long-standing creative relationship, with Dixon noting that the band’s versatility made them an easy choice for the ambitious, fast-paced production schedule.
This weekend’s broadcast carries extra weight for the frontman, a lifelong Georgia native and devoted Braves fan. “Growing up in Georgia, having this launch during a Braves game feels like destiny,” Brown said. “It’s one of those moments that feels completely full circle.”
