The Super Bowl has always been a battleground for brands vying to leave a lasting impression, but in 2026, Budweiser took its shot at Americana to a whole new level. The beer giant’s latest commercial, aired during Super Bowl 60, brought together two of the most recognizable symbols of the United States: the majestic Budweiser Clydesdale and the revered bald eagle. As the country gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, Budweiser’s ad—aptly titled “American Icons”—set out to honor both the nation’s legacy and the brand’s own 150-year history.

According to USA TODAY, the commercial was a deliberate pairing of these two American emblems. “That’s what we wanted to bring to life with this, this idea of celebrating two icons, the Budweiser Clydesdale, the American Bald Eagle at the same moment,” explained Anheuser-Busch’s chief commercial officer, Kyle Norrington. The creative minds behind the spot didn’t leave anything to chance when it came to the soundtrack either. As Norrington put it, “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd was the only song ever considered for the ad—a choice that underscores the campaign’s unapologetic embrace of classic American rock and nostalgia.

The ad itself, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Henry-Alex Rubin—known for “Murderball” and “Girl, Interrupted”—unfolds like a modern fable. As reported by WUSA9, it begins with a young Clydesdale foal wandering away from its stable and encountering a small bird beside a fallen tree. When a storm arrives, the foal shelters the vulnerable creature, forging a bond that grows stronger as the two mature. In a visually stunning crescendo, the now-grown Clydesdale leaps with the bird soaring behind, creating the illusion of a Pegasus. Only then is it revealed that the bird is, in fact, a bald eagle.

The symbolism is unmistakable. With a swelling rendition of “Free Bird” in the background, the commercial closes with the phrase “Made of America” emblazoned over a classic Budweiser pour, followed by the tagline: “For 150 years, this Bud’s for you.” The ad is part of Budweiser’s ongoing “Made Of America” campaign, which dovetails with both the brand’s sesquicentennial and the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial—a mouthful, but a milestone nonetheless.

Adweek observed that Budweiser’s approach this year is a marked return to safe, heartstring-tugging territory, especially in the wake of the controversy surrounding sister brand Bud Light’s 2023 partnership with Dylan Mulvaney. Both brands have since doubled down on a “storybook vision” of America, steering clear of anything that might be construed as cultural commentary. The result? A commercial that’s pure, undiluted Americana—complete with a cameo from a real Budweiser barley farmer and sweeping shots of the heartland.

The Clydesdales themselves are more than just advertising mascots. Their breeding and training facility, Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville, Missouri, is a living testament to Budweiser’s heritage. The ranch welcomed two new foals in the fall of 2025, joining a herd of over 70. Last year, 2025, marked the first time in over a decade that a Clydesdale foal was featured in Budweiser’s Super Bowl ad. That spot told the story of a young foal who, deemed too small for the main delivery team, heroically completed a keg delivery on its own. This year’s ad builds on that legacy, emphasizing growth, friendship, and the enduring spirit of the American dream.

For Budweiser, the stakes were high. The brand’s 2025 Super Bowl ad, which also leaned heavily on Clydesdale imagery, won the USA TODAY Ad Meter—its first such victory in ten years and its ninth overall, more than any other company. With “American Icons,” Budweiser clearly hoped to continue its winning streak by doubling down on the formula that has served it so well: nostalgia, tradition, and a dash of sentimentality.

But Budweiser wasn’t the only brand to tap into the Clydesdale mystique this year. In a playful twist, the Super Bowl also featured a parody from a galaxy far, far away. As reported by Nerdist, the trailer for the highly anticipated movie “The Mandalorian & Grogu”—the first Star Wars film to hit theaters since 2019—turned out to be a tongue-in-cheek homage to Budweiser’s iconic commercials. Instead of horses, the trailer showed The Mandalorian and Grogu riding in a chariot drawn by Tauntauns, with narration by the unmistakable Sam Elliott. The parody managed to both lampoon and celebrate the enduring appeal of the Budweiser Clydesdales, proving just how deeply these ads have seeped into American pop culture.

“The Mandalorian & Grogu,” set to debut in theaters on May 22, 2026, spins off from the popular Disney+ series and follows Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice Grogu as they navigate the galaxy in the turbulent aftermath of the Empire’s fall. The film, directed by Jon Favreau and featuring Sigourney Weaver as Ward, Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, and Jonny Coyne as an unnamed Imperial Warlord, is set between the events of “Return of the Jedi” and “The Force Awakens.” The trailer’s playful nod to Budweiser’s Clydesdales—complete with a Star Wars twist—was a highlight for fans and a testament to the cultural reach of Budweiser’s branding.

As the Super Bowl wrapped up, viewers were left with a sense of nostalgia and pride. Budweiser’s “American Icons” ad didn’t just sell beer—it sold a vision of America rooted in tradition, resilience, and camaraderie. Whether viewers saw it as a heartfelt tribute or a carefully calculated piece of branding, there’s no denying the emotional punch it packed. And with Star Wars joining in on the fun, the Clydesdale legend seems destined to gallop on for years to come.

In a year when America is reflecting on its past and looking ahead to a milestone birthday, Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercial offered a storybook vision that resonated with millions. Sometimes, it seems, all you need is a horse, an eagle, and a little Lynyrd Skynyrd to remind you what it means to be made of America.