Three-time Grammy Award-winning southern rock band Zac Brown Band has taken on a significant role for NBC’s Sunday night coverage of Major League Baseball, joining the ranks of artists like Carrie Underwood and Lenny Kravitz who perform opening segments for major sports broadcasts. Their inaugural opening segment is set to debut on Sunday, April 12, coinciding with the Atlanta Braves hosting the Cleveland Guardians in the first “Sunday Night Baseball” game on NBC.

Zac Brown expressed his humility and pride regarding this opportunity, stating that being mentioned alongside such notable artists in this context holds significant meaning. He noted that the band's years of effort in creating music that connects with people are now reaching an unforeseen wider audience, reinforcing the impact of their work.

The band performs a reimagined rendition of Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s classic “Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression Part 2.” NBC Sports creative director Tripp Dixon explained that the song was selected for its distinctive organ sound and its iconic opening line, “Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends.” This line resonated particularly well because Major League Baseball is frequently referred to as “The Show,” creating a thematic link. The choice underscores a shared theme of “waiting all day for Sunday night” that connects all three musical openings across NBC's Sunday sports programming.

This new opening follows in the footsteps of established traditions, such as Carrie Underwood’s “Sunday Night Football” opening, which she has performed since 2013, featuring a reimagined version of Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” Similarly, Lenny Kravitz’s opening for “Sunday Night Basketball” utilizes Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation.”

The filming for the “Sunday Night Baseball” opening took place in Milwaukee the previous month, with initial glimpses shown during NBC’s opening night broadcast between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers. Zac Brown described the experience as profound, reflecting on the journey that led them to such a moment. He highlighted the band's dedication to the performance and praised the collaborative spirit with NBC Sports, noting how the visuals and production brought a new dimension to their work, filling him with pride upon seeing the finished product.

While Tripp Dixon had ample time to conceptualize the “Sunday Night Basketball” opening, the brainstorming for “Sunday Night Baseball” commenced earnestly in November, following Major League Baseball's three-year agreement with NBC for Sunday night games and the wild-card playoff rounds. Dixon noted the tight, ambitious schedule for the baseball opening but lauded Zac Brown Band's impressive delivery of the song and performance despite the constraints. He also mentioned a prior, limited collaboration with Zac Brown six years ago for a Thanksgiving Thursday night tease, reinforcing the band's suitability for this role due to their music's ability to unite people and their capacity to infuse a classic with their unique style.

For Zac Brown, the debut game holds special personal significance. As a Georgia native and a lifelong fan of the Atlanta Braves, having the opening segment premiere during a Braves game in his home state is a deeply meaningful and unscripted moment that resonates with the band's fans and makes the experience feel truly full circle. Following the debut, the subsequent six weeks of games will be broadcast on Peacock and NBCSN before NBC takes over prime coverage from May 31 through September 6.