IndyCar fans were locked in to watch the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday with Alex Palou on the pole and drivers like Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist trying to take home the victory.
But before drivers started their engines, fans were left a bit baffled during the pre-race ceremonies.
Pop and country music star Jewel performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” to the packed house at the legendary racetrack but her twist on the national anthem had fans scratching their heads.
You can read the comments under the video.
SEE VIDEO BELOW:
.@jeweljk sings the national anthem at the greatest spectacle in racing. 🇺🇸 #Indy500
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 28, 2023
📺: NBC and @peacock pic.twitter.com/rpjuG1o2dk
The multi-platinum artist was named the anthem singer earlier this month.
“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,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles said in a news release on May 19.
“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.”
Palou started the race on the pole and came into the race at the top of the points standings.
Not a fan of this
This performance is fine. There isn’t a single thing disrespectful about it.
Jewel’s interpretation of the national anthem was chosen to showcase her (and by the way she was off-key in several places so it wasn’t even good for her) – and definitely not appropriate for the solemnity of the occasion. It would have been so much better if she had just sung the anthem as written so many years ago to celebrate the creation of this country.
It was a different style….I have heard “much” worse renditions. It is not an easy song to perform and it is the meaning behind the words that were written by Francis Scott Key so long ago that matter!!
It was sadly an interpretation that didnt “FLY” and in fact bombed out
What about Rosie O’Donnell
It wasn’t the worst “interpretation” I’ve heard. Too slow.