Nashville Predators: Team Looking for New Anthem Singer
By Jake Evans
After a fallout with the long-time anthem singer, and popularity of country stars’ performances, the Nashville Predators are now looking for a new anthem singer.
Dennis K. Morgan sang the national anthem before Nashville Predators home games for 17 years. With the exception of the occasional celebrity performance, the stage was all Morgan’s. He came to the Predators after previously singing the National Anthem for the Dallas Stars. All was well, until the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past spring.
Morgan is just a normal Nashvillian. He worked as a healthcare IT recruiting manager by day, but belted out “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Oh, Canada” by night. He had performed the National Anthem almost 185 times for the team and Predator fans over the years, before the organization decided to bring in big time country stars to perform during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
At first, it was just Carrie Underwood. She requested to sing the anthem before Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
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Understandable.
She’s a world-famous country star, a recognizable face in all of music, and the Predators captain’s wife. Morgan agreed to let her sing for Game 3, as it was part of his agreement with the team.
But the fan reaction to Underwood’s national anthem turned into an every night thing. She was first, then Luke Bryan followed. Then Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley and Little Big Town. Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride and Kelly Clarkson also got in on the action.
Hurt Feelings
Although fans and the hockey world loved seeing Grammy winners sing the National Anthem, Dennis Morgan didn’t enjoy it quite as much.
Morgan told the Predators that he was frustrated by being upstaged by big-time singers. He had been the regular singer for 17 seasons, and felt that it was only right that he could have a chance to perform during such an exciting run. But the fans loved the superstars, so the Predators kept bringing them in.
After the Stanley Cup run ended, Morgan announced that he doesn’t, “want to have an association with the organization any longer.”
Harsh words from a guy who has been at just about every single Predators game in the last 17 years.
You can understand his frustration. The Predators basically told Morgan that he wasn’t popular enough to sing for them during the playoffs. In a city known as Music City, and on a stage with millions watching, you pull out the big names. Sometimes, the opinion of 18,000 fans trumps the feelings of one man.
Sorry, Dennis.
Who Will Sing the Anthem Now?
Today, the Predators announced that they will be allowing fans to audition to be the next regular anthem singer. The application is open until Sunday August 13th. Ten finalists will be selected to perform in front of a live audience and celebrity judges. Four of the ten will move on the final round, where they will sing during Predators pre-season games. The singer who receives the most votes at the end of the pre-season, will become to new regular singer. The second and third place singers will serve as fill-ins when needed.
Nashville is Music City for a reason.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to be the next National Anthem singer, submit an application before August 13th.
"“The Smashville community reaches far beyond Middle Tennessee – just as our anthem singer does – and the input from our loyal fanbase guarantees that inside Bridgestone Arena and on television screens across the United States, our new singer will be a household staple alongside the Western Conference Champion Nashville Predators,”– Nashville Predators Executive Vice President and CRO Chris Junghans"
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With 5 nationally televised home games this season, it’s important that the Predators continue to show off the talent of Nashvillians. Time to step up and show the world what we’ve got Music City.