Pop and country music star Jewel performed her own rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Indianapolis 500 speedway on Sunday and the twist on the national anthem was panned by many fans as “disrespectful,” while others thought it was the best they’d ever heard.
The multi-platinum artist was tapped as the anthem singer earlier in May.
“The singing of the national anthem before the Indy 500 green flag is a signature and iconic moment at the Racing Capital of the World,” president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, J. Douglas Boles, proclaimed in a news release.
“For over a century, we’ve gathered at IMS to salute our nation’s military heroes, and the national anthem performance is a tradition that reminds us all of their sacrifice and bravery. Jewel’s rendition will be a memorable and moving experience for fans at the track and watching from home on NBC,” he stated, making a massive understatement.
.@jeweljk sings the national anthem at the greatest spectacle in racing. #Indy500
: NBC and @peacock pic.twitter.com/rpjuG1o2dk
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 28, 2023
Instead of doing a classic rendition of the song, the Alaska-raised Folk artist, 49, came up with one that was far more nuanced and not at all traditional. The four-time Grammy-nominated artist composed a soulful version of the 200+-year-old song that many regarded as tone-deaf.
This rendition was similar in style and tone to the version of the national anthem she sang at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Utah, where she was born.
As part of the opening ceremonies, New Mexico’s Holloman Air Force Base also sent four F-16 Vipers to this year’s Indy 500. But Jewel’s performance overshadowed that patriotic spectacle and went viral almost immediately.
#Indy500 #FlyOver#BadAss pic.twitter.com/A6HwhCXaNb
— Eric Barnes (@ebarnes442) May 28, 2023
The singer’s twist on the national anthem was hammered on social media:
This is the perfect example of how not to do the national anthem. It was to the point of being disrespectful. https://t.co/LAVSt1YZ6x
— Jacob (@JacobRE1996) May 28, 2023
I’m sorry, but the National Anthem should NEVER, be changed up like this. Good artist, bad choice!
— TG MOMMA LAURA (@gmommalaura) May 28, 2023
One of the worst National Anthem performances I’ve ever seen in my life. Not Roseanne bad, but up there.
— @ForeverCART (@ForeverCART) May 28, 2023
Jewel butchered the national anthem at the Indy 500. People were trying to sing along but couldn’t because of the way she sang it. What a shame.
— Nancy Gould (@nagould) May 28, 2023
Jewel mangling the anthem what a shocker #Indy500
— Dr.Greenthumb (@The_Wraith420) May 28, 2023
I really like Jewel. But that wasn’t good.
— choose wisely (@billpresson) May 28, 2023
Terrible. Just terrible. A song is intended to celebrate our great nation turned into a wailing dirge that only she can sing. Sing the song the way Key wrote it and we will all sing along. Americans, together.
— Jim Stansbury (@JimStansburyKy) May 28, 2023
As a former Navy musician, who has played and sung this song easily over 1,000 times in various settings, tha answer on this very loose rendition is a Hard Pass. Love Jewel-but the anthem isn’t a 90s pop ballad.
— BK (@GenXUnderground) May 28, 2023
I will agree that Jewel sang the National Anthem much better than some others I’ve heard. But this is a song that should stand alone and be sung as it was originally created.
This song represents so much more than the start of sports. It represents all of the blood, sweat,…
— Miss Marie ❤️ (@MarieN2428) May 29, 2023
To anyone wondering how it’s disrespectful, it’s because she (and, unfortunately, the majority of celebrities who sing the national anthem) used the moment to draw attention to herself rather than sing it the way it was written, which would keep the focus on the country.
— RM (@RickySFG49ers) May 28, 2023
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