Chris Stapleton on national anthem: ‘Not an easy song for singers’


Image Credit:usatoday.com


With nearly as much attention paid to the music as the game during the Super Bowl, the trifecta of artists who took the field Sunday prior to kickoff knew the importance of their platform.

Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”) and Babyface were tapped for the honors.

Country belter Stapleton, whose brawny voice is a hallmark of his numerous hits, played guitar and carried the national anthem with his usual humble approach.

The ever-shaggy Stapleton – not wearing his hallmark cowboy hat – hit some big vocal notes over his subdued guitar picking.

Stapleton’s quietly affecting rendition moved Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and center Jason Kelce to tears as they stood on the sideline. The country star’s swoops on the anthem’s final notes sent the Arizona crowd into spasms of cheers.

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This marks the third consecutive year that a country singer has been tapped to perform the national anthem. Eric Church shared duties with Jazmine Sullivan in 2021 and Mickey Guyton presented a soaring rendition in 2022.

Stapleton, who slayed a performance of “Higher Ground” with Stevie Wonder at last week’s Grammy Awards, was joined by Troy Kotsur, who performed the national anthem in American Sign Language. Kotsur became the second deaf actor to win an Academy Award for his role in Oscar best picture winner “CODA.”

Gruff-in-voice, teddy-bear-in-demeanor singer and guitarist Stapleton has been on a continual career upswing since breaking through with 2015’s “Traveller” song and album.

Note: This article is taken from usatoday.com

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/02/12/super-bowl-57-national-anthem-chris-stapleton-sheryl-lee-ralph/11214856002/

 

 

 

 

 

 

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