Carrie Underwood and Ludacris make a very powerful statement with their new video for “The Champion,” which gives a voice to sociopolitical protests from the past right into the present day.
The newly released video intermingles shots of Underwood and Ludacris cutting the song in separate studios with exactly the kind of sports footage one might have expected, since the song was written and recorded specifically for use as an NFL and Olympics anthem. But it goes a lot further than that in depicting what constitutes a champion, displaying old black-and-white footage of civil rights marchers in Selma, Ala., along with shots of women holding up signs in support of the #MeToo movement in a nod to the heroic lengths ordinary people have gone to in order to effect political and social change in America over the decades.
The footage also pays homage to people who are overcoming physical disabilities, as well as everyday working class people like farmers who are simply champions because they are doing what it takes to overcome the obstacles of everyday life. It’s an inclusive video that reaches out to a broad spectrum of people with a message that aims to unite in a very divided time.
“The Champion” Carries a Powerful Message for Many Fans
“The Champion” reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 10 countries after it first aired during Super Bowl LII, where it was seen by more than 131 million viewers worldwide. In America, it held the top spot throughout its release week prior to the game, and then rose back to No. 1 for four consecutive days after the Super Bowl LII opening. “The Champion” also debuted in the Top 5 on the all-genre Top 200 Digital Songs chart and reached No. 7 on Spotify’s US Viral 50 chart.
Underwood co-wrote the song with Brett James, Chris DeStefano and Christopher Bridges (Ludacris), and Jim Jonsin produced the track. Jimmy Lynch directed the new video.
Underwood earned her 13th ACM Awards nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year when the 2018 ACM Awards nominations were announced on Thursday (March 1) and she is also nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “The Fighter,” her duet with Keith Urban. She is currently in the studio working on a new album that she will release as part of a new deal she signed with Capitol Records Nashville.
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