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.
