The names of the NFL superstars who have performed on Monday Night Football the past two decades are constantly changing, but one name has remained constant since 1989 – Hank Williams, Jr. The legendary singer has earned four Emmy awards (1991-1994) and national acclaim among fans for singing the anthem that kicks off the NFL's weekly primetime showcase game. That legacy will continue for the 19th year when Williams will perform the opening theme to ESPN's MNF this fall with a new all-star band featuring singer/songwriter Brian Setzer and other popular artists.

Williams will again perform "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night" – based on his hit song "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight." This year's version will offer a "boogie-woogie" and big-band music flare with the addition of Setzer and 13 members of the horn section from the Brian Setzer Orchestra. ESPN introduced the all-star band concept during its inaugural MNF season a year ago, and this year's diverse collection of musicians is scheduled to feature new artists representing rock 'n roll, pop, country and funk, including:

Guitarists Brian Setzer (Stray Cats/Brian Setzer Orchestra), Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), country music sensation Gretchen Wilson, and young phenom Drake Bell, the 21-year-old actor/singer/songwriter from the popular Nickelodeon series Drake and Josh; Keyboardist John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting); Funk bassist Bootsy Collins (Parliament Funkadelic); and Drummer Cindy Blackman (drummer for Lenny Kravitz).

"The open was such a huge hit last fall, we knew we had to assemble another all-star band to join Hank as ESPN's Monday Night Football continues to put its own special stamp on this iconic music ritual that gets fans 'ready for some football' each Monday during the NFL season," said Norby Williamson, executive vice president, production, ESPN.

Williams added: "Bootsy Collins, Gretchen Wilson, Richie Sambora...these are definitely some of my rowdiest friends. With names like these in the open for Monday Night Football, this year's theme will get everyone fired up for that pigskin."

The MNF opening video will feature team-specific lyrics and visuals each week based on the 17 regular-season ESPN match-ups. The taping will take place Monday, Aug. 20 at House of Blues Las Vegas with all of the musicians. Setzer and John Colby are music directors for the project with lyrics by Williams and Mike Szykowny. ESPN's Rick Paiva (producer) and Chris Mantzaris (director) are overseeing production of the video with technical resources provided by Stephen Levy of Habana Avenue.

The MNF video will debut prior to kickoff of ESPN's MNF regular season-opening doubleheader Sept. 10 – Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (7 p.m. ET) and Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (10:15 p.m.).

In 2006, ESPN kicked off its first season of MNF with Williams and an all-star band performing the opening theme. Collins is the only returning player this year from the line-up that also included guitarists Chris Burney (Bowling for Soup), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band); keyboardists Little Richard and Bernie Worrell (Parliament Funkadelic); fiddler Charlie Daniels; saxophonist Clarence Clemons (E Street Band); and drummers Angela Webster (The Believers) and ?uestlove (The Roots).

With more than 70 albums to his credit, Williams has a fascinating career to reflect upon for a legend still in his prime. His discography chronicles a bold profile of growth from adored offspring of a legendary father, to titan of the modern country rock movement in his own right. For more than a decade, America has come to its collective feet each fall Monday night when this larger than life superman of a musician looks into the camera and unleashes the national anthem for viewers of Monday Night Football — 'Are you ready for some football?' Those simple words have won Williams an entirely new generation of fans and given him the distinction of being the first country performer to ever win an Emmy.