Trisha Yearwood sings 'Star-Spangled Banner' before Predators game
Country music star, longtime fan performed national anthem
NHL.com @NHLdotcom
Trisha Yearwood continued the series of superstar national anthem singers at Bridgestone Arena Monday before Game 6 of the Western Conference Final between the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks.
Yearwood's husband and fellow country star, Garth Brooks, broke the news before the game when he announced a new album project on a Facebook Live video.
Yearwood has won three Grammy Awards, among many accolades. and has sold 15 million albums since her debut single, "She's in Love with the Boy" was released in 1991.
In addition, Yearwood hosts a cooking show, "Trisha's Southern Kitchen" on Food Network, that won an Emmy for "Outstanding Culinary Program." Earlier this year, Predators Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg and Colin Wilson appeared on her showand she exchanged cookies for hockey lessons.
Yearwood and Brooks are longtime Predators fans, and tweeted their support before the game.
Johansen and teammate Kevin Fiala, both injured, did the pregame rally towel honors along with retired NFL star Eddie George, who spent eight of his nine seasons with the Tennessee Titans franchise and started every game during his tenure.
The celebrity anthem singer is a tradition in Nashville but reached a new level at the start of the 2017 postseason when Carrie Underwood was the surprise anthem singer before Game 3 of the first round against the Chicago Blackhawks. It was the first time Underwood, married to captain Mike Fisher, performed the national anthem at a Predators game.
Before Game 4 against the Blackhawks, country music star Luke Bryan, the 2015 Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, handled anthem duties.
Little Big Town, a two-time Grammy Award winner, sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" before Game 3 of the second round against the St. Louis Blues. Before Game 4, country music legend Vince Gill, joined by his daughters Jenny and Corrina, performed.
Country music megastar Keith Urban sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" before Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. It was the first time Urban, a resident of Nashville for the past 25 years, had sung the anthem at a sporting event. Urban's wife, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, was also at the game. Kelly Clarkson, the "American Idol" Season 1 winner in 2002 and three-time Grammy winner, sang before Game 4.