Reba McEntire's national anthem at the Super Bowl made us miss Whitney Houston on the 12th anniversary of her death

Chuck Arnold

music

by Chuck Arnold

There are many times when I – like many others around the world – miss Whitney Houston.

Every time I hear someone on American Idol or The Voice try the impossible by singing one of her songs.

Every time I hear “I wanna Dance With Somebody” In a bar or club and watching generations of women and men – gay and straight alike – singing and singing at the top of their lungs.

And all the Grammys since I was there in Los Angeles that weekend when she shockingly passed away — at the age of 48 — the day before music's biggest night on February 11, 2012.

But I probably miss Houston more than ever when someone steps up to the microphone to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl. Because no one has ever owned the national anthem and transformed it the way Whitney did when she sang it on February 12, 1991.

On Sunday night — before the Kansas City Chiefs took on the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — it was Reba McEntire who had the daunting task of measuring up to Houston's monumental memory on the 12th anniversary of her death.

And while the 68-year-old country star did an adequate job — more wholesome than special — there was nothing transcendent about the day when you'd hope there might be some heavenly inspiration from Houston herself.

In fact, there have been others — from Luther Vandross (1997) and Mariah Carey (2002) to Beyoncé (2004) and Lady Gaga (2016) — who have made Houstonians prouder since 1991.

But today, of all days, we wanted more than what Reba had to offer.

At least it was better than Post Malone, whose “America the Beautiful” might have made Houston roll in her grave. Let's just say the guy isn't about to win any singing competitions.

But “Rise Up” singer Andra Day — though she doesn't have any of the vaunted vocal power of Whitney's heyday (who does?) — channeled some of the gospel and jazz vibes of Houston's national anthem for the ages when she sang “Lift Every Voice” and Sing. “

On this night – in memory of the greatest voice of all time – that should be enough.