There are lots of changes coming for the first Monday Night Football of 2020 — a new booth with Steve Levy, Louis Riddick and Brian Griese, for one — and this year, it includes a change to the theme song.
Gone (for now) is the version of Hank Williams Jr. All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight we’ve heard for decades, although it was pulled in 2011 after the country singer’s comments about President Barack Obama and brought back in 2017.
The reason it’s out? Sports Business Daily reports that with fans mostly not in attendance at stadiums, it doesn’t make sense.
It will be replaced by a new version of Rip It Up, a classic by Little Richard who died earlier this year — SBD also says ESPN worked with the estate and his label — and whose vocals will be joined by band Butcher Brown.
Here’s what you’ll hear on Monday night:
And the original if you want to compare them:
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