kk.Budweiser’s “American Icons” Super Bowl LX Ad Is Going Viral — and Fans Say It Feels Like a George Strait Moment
A Super Bowl commercial that landed like a gut-punch
Budweiser’s newly released Super Bowl LX spot isn’t being talked about like a typical ad. Viewers online are describing it as something closer to a “statement”—the kind of sixty seconds that doesn’t chase jokes or chaos, but aims straight for the chest with Americana imagery and a familiar, aching soundtrack.
The commercial, titled “American Icons,” features two of Budweiser’s most recognizable symbols: a Clydesdale and a bald eagle. It’s set to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” and closes with Budweiser’s message and anniversary tribute.
What’s unusual is how quickly the reaction has moved beyond “good ad” and into cultural mood. On social media, people aren’t just sharing the clip—they’re describing what it reminded them of: home, quiet pride, and music that doesn’t have to shout to be heard.
The images doing the heavy lifting: Clydesdales, an eagle, and a mythic “Pegasus” beat
Budweiser revealed the ad on Good Morning America, highlighting its central pairing: a young Clydesdale and an eaglet whose bond grows across seasons and setbacks. The story builds toward a striking visual—an eagle spreading its wings from the horse’s back in a way that briefly reads like a “Pegasus” image before the camera resolves what you’re seeing.
It’s classic Budweiser in structure: simple narrative, iconic animal imagery, and a closing emotional beat meant to leave you with a lump in your throat instead of a punchline. The brand is also explicitly tying the spot to its milestone year, with multiple outlets noting Budweiser’s 150th anniversary messaging attached to the commercial.
Why “Free Bird” and “Made of America” hit so hard right now
The song choice is not subtle—and that appears to be the point. “Free Bird” is one of the most instantly recognizable rock anthems in American popular culture, and Budweiser leans into that familiarity with a patriotic visual language and a closing slogan that emphasizes American identity.
The timing matters, too. Super Bowl LX is less than two weeks away, and ad-watch culture is already in full swing, with major outlets publishing early-roundups of the “best commercials” and “must-see teasers.” In that environment, an ad that trades irony for sincerity stands out.
The George Strait comparison fans keep making
George Strait is not listed as a performer in Budweiser’s “American Icons” spot, and the reporting around the ad centers on the Clydesdale–eagle story and its soundtrack—not a celebrity appearance.
But that hasn’t stopped a specific kind of fan reaction from spreading: this feels like George Strait. Not literally. Emotionally.
In comment threads and repost captions, viewers describe the commercial with language typically reserved for Strait’s music—“steady,” “quiet pride,” “no gimmicks,” “feels like home.” Those are the same qualities that have long defined Strait’s brand: tradition without theatricality, sentiment without manipulation, and an Americana tone that doesn’t need to perform patriotism loudly to communicate it.
In other words, fans aren’t claiming he’s in the ad. They’re saying the ad feels like the world Strait’s songs have always lived in: dusty roads, wide skies, and the kind of memory that shows up without being summoned.
A return to “Americana sincerity” in the Super Bowl ad arms race
Budweiser’s spot is also being read as a strategic return to what it historically does best during the Super Bowl: emotionally legible Americana. Coverage notes the brand’s long association between Clydesdales and “the national mood,” and frames this year’s approach as direct and intentionally patriotic.
That doesn’t mean it will be universally loved—few Super Bowl ads are. But the early response suggests Budweiser found a lane that cuts through fatigue: a story with restraint. No celebrity overload. No meta humor. No frantic editing. Just a visual fable and a song that carries cultural weight.
Where to watch it, and what happens next
Budweiser has posted the “American Icons” commercial on its official YouTube channel ahead of Super Bowl LX, where it has already drawn significant early views and comments. The ad is scheduled to air nationally during Super Bowl LX.
As the game approaches, expect two parallel conversations to grow: the ranking-industrial-complex (“best ad so far”) and the deeper emotional debate over what viewers want the Super Bowl to feel like this year. Budweiser is betting, very clearly, on sincerity.
And if the loudest takeaway from a beer commercial is “this feels like George Strait,” that tells you something about the cultural moment: a lot of people aren’t craving louder. They’re craving steadier.
