Viewers React To Cody Johnson’s “Refreshing” Rendition Of The National Anthem
Country star Cody Johnson had the honor of kicking off Tuesday night’s (July 16) Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, with a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The national anthem is a song that is an honor to perform but carries with it enormous pressure. Any flubs, off notes, or forgotten lyrics often cause the performance to be considered unpatriotic and disrespectful. So artists don’t take it lightly when they are asked to sing the song.
Luke Bryan, Lady A, and most recently, Ingrid Andress have all fallen victim to a less-than-perfect “Star-Spangled Banner” performance. Andress, a country artist best known for her hit “More Hearts Than Mine,” went viral following a questionable performance of the song before Monday night’s MLB Home Run Derby.
Andress faced immediate backlash for her off-tune performance and issued a statement addressing it the following day. In the statement, the singer took responsibility for her actions and admitted that she was intoxicated during the performance. She added that she was checking into rehab to “get the help [she] needs.”
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All eyes were on Cody Johnson as he took his place on the field 24 hours later to sing the anthem.
The Texas-born and raised singer seemed unphased, although likely aware of the events of the night before, as he removed his cowboy hat and began to sing. The crowd and players seemed entranced as Cojo sang. He was careful to maintain the integrity of the anthem, staying true to the original tune with no elaborate vocals or additions.
The audience approved and responded with cheers and applause. Online viewers felt the same and reacted with comments praising the country singer.
“Thank you for a moving, professional, and respectful performance of our National Anthem this evening, @codyjohnson,” one fan wrote. Another added, “As a grown man, I’m not afraid to admit that Cody Johnson makes me tear up,” and yet another called the performance “refreshing.”
Comment sections were filled with posts saying, “THAT’s how you sing the national anthem,” and “So much better than last night.”
Listen to Cody Johnson’s beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the video below and share your 2 cents in the comments.
