Even Francis Scott Key must have heard Jennifer Hudson reach out to her mother, brother and nephew in each soaring note of our national anthem (“Bruce Scores Big at Halftime,” Feb. 2).

The peace in Hudson’s face orchestrated her voice to grasp that difficult melody and wrench from it all the triumph and pathos the author intended.

She made it personal, and she made it magnificent.

Before the game began, Hudson’s performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” caused the first tears; gladiators wept, and I am sure her mother did too.

More than touchdowns were scored at Super Bowl XL111.

Mary Alice Altorfer,

New Braunfels, Texas