Silke Jasso
Any singer would tell you that being asked to sing the national anthem at any event is an honor, but it’s also extremely nerve-racking. Pile on the pressure of singing “The Star Spangled Banner” at a major sporting event and the anxiety is elevated. One more thing — make it a nationally televised event that will have millions tuning in and filling a stadium, and we’re sure the nerves are through the roof.
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Kinda makes you nervous on Little Big Town’s behalf, huh?
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Yet the reigning ACM- and CMA-Award winning quartet seemed calm and collected as they delivered a crystal clear, goose bump-raising rendition of the national anthem at the College Football National Championship game on Jan. 9 like only they can do. With LBT’s Karen Fairchild kicking the song off, the group quickly split into delicious four-part harmonies even as fireworks exploded over their heads and Challenger the eagle soared through the stadium. You didn’t have to be be pulling for Alabama or Clemson to appreciate the magnitude and patriotism of the moment.
Little Big Town wasn’t the only country music presence at this highly anticipated event. Dierks Bentley handled pre-game festivities with a set of his big hits and fan favorites, and Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany Kerr, were there as spectators.
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We know without a doubt that Brittany was pulling for Alabama, and Jason, a die-hard University of Georgia fan, supported the Crimson Tide on her behalf. Both Karen and Kimberly Schlapman from Little Big Town attended Alabama’s Samford University, and the band’s Jimi Westbrook is also from Alabama, so it would seem fitting that they were cheering for the Tide as well. Dierks, on the other hand, was born and raised in Arizona and attended college in Nashville, so he was likely there for the fun of it all.
Clemson ended up beating out Alabama with a final score of 35 to 31, but LBT’s national anthem performance was one of the highlights of the evening.
