4th July: Woman's impromptu rendition of 'The Star Spangled Banner' at Lincoln Memorial goes viral
Star Swain’s performance of the US national anthem brought other tourists to a halt
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Whether you are taken in by Star Swain’s feigned reluctant modesty is one thing.
What is beyond doubt, is that when the 34-year-old broke into a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner in front of tourists at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, just about everyone was stunned. Since then, the performance has been uploaded to YouTube and gone viral.
Ms Swain, a former marching band trombonist and singer, was in Washington last month with her family and members of her church, when they visited the memorial to America’s 16th president.
The performance began when Ms Swain, from Tallahassee, Florida, was discussing the acoustics inside the memorial with Marcus Henderson, a minister at her church.
“I said, ‘I could break out and start singing The Star Spangled Banner,” Ms Swain told the Tallahassee Democrat.
A friend started shooting video and dared her to sing. “I’m scared,” she said.
As it was, Ms Swain completed a soaring, stunning rendition of the song, and earned the applause and admiration of other tourists.
“I was in that moment. I just closed my eyes and started singing,” she said. “Marcus was videotaping the whole time.”
The performance has received at least 15 million views on Facebook. And Ms Swain also earned herself an appearance on the US morning show Good Morning America and she has said she would like to perform at the Super Bowl.
“I’m feeling absolutely wonderful. I’m super excited,” she said.
“There have been so many wonderful comments, so many expressions of love and support that have been coming.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments