After waiting a lifetime for a moment like this, former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson finally got her chance to shine. And the tears are still streaming down our cheeks. 

Sure the background humming made us cringe, but the young smiles of the choir made us cheer.

Clarkson entered the field with an over/under of 94 seconds, and trust us, fans were praying it wasn't another two-minute, 29-second marathon like Jennifer Hudson exhausted at Super Bowl XLIII.

Considering Clarkson was quick to the punch (under 94 seconds) in both previous anthems, it was safe to assume she'd be under with this one.

And she barely was, at a nail-biting 1:34.2. That was close...

With a chance to "Breakaway" from the competition and truly establish her legacy, Clarkson entered arguably the biggest media stage in the sports world at Super Bowl XLVI reeking of confidence. She seemed ready for the moment as she passionately embraced the spotlight.

It was a memorable encore to Christina Aguilera's sloppy performance last season. In remembering the lyrics, Clarkson already won. But there was more to this story...

Whether it sounded like a combination of Fergie and Jesus, or the sensual tones of a budding star, Clarkson's showing was one for the record books.

Her soothing vocal chords sparked goosebumps and exhilarated an eager crowd. We're still picking our jaws up off the floor.

Now that we're thoroughly engaged and prepped for a masterful rematch, let's sit back and enjoy the biggest game that the NFL has to offer.

We can only expect the following 60 minutes are just as inspirational.