One of the biggest honors but toughest challenges an artist can get is being asked to sing the Star Spangled Banner on a national stage. Rascal Flatts has done it quite a few times in their career, including recently before game three of the NBA playoffs, and Joe Don Rooney says, “Gary can probably speak to this better than me, he has to sing the bulk of it, but there’s nothing better for myself personally, and I think I speak for the whole band, but it’s just incredible to sing our nation’s anthem. There’s a little pressure there obviously but there’s excitement. It’s almost like you want to get in there like you’re playing in a game. You just want to be in the moment. And so it’s invigorating. It’s empowering. You just hope you do a good job and deliver.”
As the lead singer Gary says the one thing you have to be careful about it not starting too high. “That’s the key. And don’t forget the words. (If you start too high) you’re in trouble because you’ve got one shot. It’s a lot of pressure but it’s fun to challenge yourself.”
Fortunately, Rascal Flatts, who is on the verge of their next number one song with “Yours If You Want It,” has sung the same arrangement for years, so it’s rare that they ever make a misstep when they get the opportunity to perform the national anthem.
Rascal Flatts – singing national anthem :42
Joe Don Rooney – “We’ve done kind of the same arrangement for quite a long time now and maybe once a year, somewhere like the Cavs game, we get to go do that and showcase our national anthem. And you know Gary can probably speak to this better than me, he has to sing the bulk of it, but there’s nothing better for myself personally, and I think I speak for the whole band, but it’s just incredible to sing our nation’s anthem. There’s a little pressure there obviously but there’s excitement. It’s almost like you want to get in there like you’re playing in a game. You just want to be in the moment. And so it’s invigorating. It’s empowering. You just hope you do a good job and deliver.”
Gary LeVox – “Yeah, don’t start too high. That’s the key. And don’t forget the words.”
Joe Don – “Oh say (singing). Uh-oh, that’s gonna blow the roof off.”
Gary – “You’re in trouble because you’ve got one shot. It’s a lot of pressure but it’s fun to challenge yourself.”