DAILY DIRT: Carrie Underwood continues to belt out that familiar NFL theme music — all the way to the bank

The musician who often gets left behind in this conversation is Joan Jett, but don’t worry. She gets compensated, too … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,069 of The Daily Dirt

1. Admit it, guys, we all love the intro of Sunday Night Football on NBC, featuring singer Carrie Underwood.

Have you ever wondered how much the former American Idol makes from that weekly “Waiting All Day For Sunday Night” opening?

Underwood makes $1 million — per week! Or about $18 million per year, Not a bad gig, eh?

Underwood has been performing the opening since 2013, so if my math is correct, that’s roughly $216 million.

NBC got the rights to Sunday Night Football in 2006 and began curating its own music catalog for the broadcast. Pink was the first artist to sing the SNF theme song that initial season. In 2007, she was replaced by Faith Hill, who took over until 2013, which is when Underwood jumped in the slot.

For those who might be unaware, the original Sunday night theme song was a reworking of the Joan Jett classic “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” which, of course, also earned her some royalties. The opening theme has been modified in recent years.

2. Did you know (Part 134)

• That “The Boomstick,” found at certain concession stands at Globe Life Park in Texas, is a two-foot long hot dog costing $30. It comes with toppings offerings as Texas chili, grilled onions, nacho cheese, jalapeno peppers and a specially designed carrying case.
• That passionate kissing between two adults for 10 seconds can exchange up to 80 million bacteria.
• That Iceland and Antarctica are the only two places in the world where mosquitoes do not exist.
• That the very first song played on the moon was “Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra.
• That the most popular item at Walmart is bananas. They are the store’s No. 1-selling item.

3. Unlike a week ago when an entirely new medal stand was unveiled for The Great Plate Debate of 2024, there are no new podium crashers this time around.

Our gold, silver and bronze medalists held steady, but there were still some entertaining finds across West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri:

• XMAS BBY 2
• MADOG
• SMLFRY 3
• MRS H
• ALIEN 2
• 9 DUES
• MOM 24
• NEW BRO 6
• U ZUMBA 2
• SAS MAS
• TABBA 3
• MOO 1007
• ME AGN 2

It’s week No. 2 for the following medal triumvirate:

• Gold medal: U BABE 1.
• Silver medal: POACHER. 
• Bronze medal: LANDED. 

Steve Thought O’ The Day

Actually, I have three thoughts today …

• If a mime is arrested, does it still have the right to remain silent?
• If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?
• If the plural of goose is geese, why wouldn’t the plural of moose be meece?

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Always great when he pulls a Rick Reilly and recycles Carrie Underwood.