Singer Sues Carrie Underwood, NBC & NFL Over “Game On” Copyright Infringement

by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | June 21, 2019

Singer/songwriter Heidi Merrill filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Carrie Underwood, NBC and the NFL over “Game On,” the 2018 theme song to Sunday Night Football.

According to the lawsuit, Heidi claims that her song, “Game On,” which she penned with three others in 2016, recorded and posted to YouTube in 2017, is “substantially—even strikingly—similar, if not identical” to Carrie’s version of the song, which was co-penned by Carrie, Chris DeStefano and Brett James.

Heidi also claims she met Carrie’s producer, Mark Bright, at an event in Nashville and pitched the song to him.

Heidi and the co-writers of the song have named Carrie, Mark Bright, NBC, the NFL, Sony Corp., Warner Music Group and more as co-defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed in New York on June 19.

The plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount in damages.

Listen to Heidi’s version of “Game On” below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Blogs

On Wednesday (April 30), Eric Church announced the dates and details of his 2025 Free The Machine Tour of North America. The 22-date arena tour starts in Pittsburgh on September 12 and finishes in Los Angeles on November 15, hitting cities like Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, and Seattle along the way. Church will be joined by…

Eric Church Announces 2025 Free The Machine North American Tour

Prior to being honored during Variety’s Power of Women: Nashville event, Jessi Alexander spoke with the publication about her journey from fledgling artist to blockbuster country songwriter. Alexander broke gender stereotypes in the Music Row writers' rooms by penning chart-topping hits like Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,” Miranda Lambert’s “Things That Break,” Blake Shelton’s…

Jessi Alexander Shares Her Journey From Fledgling Artist To Hit Country Songwriter

Prior to being honored during Variety’s Power of Women: Nashville event, Jessi Alexander spoke with the publication about her journey from fledgling artist to blockbuster country songwriter. Alexander broke gender stereotypes in the Music Row writers’ rooms by penning chart-topping hits like Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,” Miranda Lambert’s “Things That Break,” Blake Shelton’s…

Nashville-based label Big Loud, home to Morgan Wallen, has reportedly sold a minority stake in the country superstar’s master recordings to Chord Music Partners for over $200 million. The deal is for a minority holding in Wallen’s first three studio albums, which includes his blockbuster 2023 double album, One Thing at a Time. The deal…

Minority Stake In Morgan Wallen’s Catalog Sold By Big Loud For $200 Million

The 2025 ACM Awards will begin with a 12-minute music showcase honoring ACM Award-winning Songs of the Year over six decades. The segment will feature Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland, and will likely include hit songs like “Tequila,” “Why Not Me,” “Blue,” and “Stay” in the medley.…

2025 ACM Awards Will Open With 12-Minute “Songs Of The Decades’ Medley, With Special Collaborations Planned During Ceremony

Chase McDaniel believes that listening to music in real-time can have a significant impact on listeners, rather than letting an algorithm choose what they hear. The new country artist recalls three life-changing moments he’s had while hearing songs on country radio, and McDaniel hopes his first radio single, "Burned Down Heaven," has a similar effect…