As Country star Chris Stapleton readies to wow America with his rendition of the National Anthem during Sunday’s big game, fellow Country artist Jimmie Allen is just glad he won’t be the one feeling the pressure… and he plans on keeping it that way.
LISTEN NOW: Jimmie Allen shares why he’s refuse to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl
While he recognizes singing the National Anthem at a Super Bowl is one of the greatest honors a musician can receive, Allen says it’s one he’d never accept.
“I told myself I will never sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl,” Allen told KSON’s John and Tammy In The Morning. “Ain’t gonna happen. That’s too much pressure.”
He continued, “You can’t count on me to do a great job... I would pass. I would say ‘No.’ I would do ‘America the Beautiful,’ or I would do ‘God Bless America.’ I would do the halftime show. It’s just some pressure about the National Anthem that I just don’t want no smoke.”
Allen went on to share the added pressure he would feel as a Country music artist and how he believes any small mistake would lead to being “cancelled.”
“If I did it, I would have to have some music, something to hide behind. I am not singing that a capella at the Super Bowl. And I’m gonna need a teleprompter. I know the words, but I need some reassurance, man. That is a big deal. You can’t be messin’ up America’s song.”
He continued, “Especially as a Country singer, on national television! You will be cancelled! Every country music venue [and] every church will abandon you. Even Jesus himself might turn his head and shake it in disapproval.”
And if he didn’t already make himself clear, Jimmie added, “I’d rather put my hand in a blender and pull the cake batter out.”
While Jimmie clearly has no faith in himself to carry out America’s song at the big game, he believes they got it right when they extended the offer to Stapleton.
“He’s Chris Stapleton,” Jimmie stated. “You can count on Chris Stapleton to do a great job.”
Tune in Sunday, February 12 ahead of the big game to see Stapleton take on the Anthem. He follows in the footsteps of Country artist, Mickey Guyton who performed it last year and Eric Church alongside Jazmine Sullivan who sang it in 2021.
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