A Minnesota teacher is still flying high after being selected by the Harris-Walz campaign to sing the national anthem before Governor Tim Walz accepted his vice presidential nomination Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention.
Jess Davis was Teacher of the Year in 2019 in Minnesota and was elated when she got the call. Davis says she's been singing national anthems for more than 20 years. But this one? Pretty important.
"It felt like all of my work was culminating to this point," Davis told WCCO's Susie Jones.
Was it a little bit jittery for her?
"Oh, yes. Yes. I mean, the moment that I got the call, I was like, what am I saying yes to?"
Davis hasn't actually listened back to how it sounded Wednesday night either.
"I tend not to listen to my interviews or read the comments, but I am loving all the love from my people."
It was far from the only Minnesota connection to the music Wednesday at the convention.
There was the "walk up music" for Governor Walz on the national stage. That was John Legend with a jazzy version of "Let's Go Crazy" by Minnesota's own Prince ahead of the Walz speech. The pop superstar was born in — and died in — his home state.
Then there was the traditional roll call which turned into a boisterous dance party Tuesday, with each delegation announcing their votes for presidential nominee Kamala Harris to a fitting song.
The musical nods spun by DJ Cassidy were mostly obvious. Massachusetts went with a punk song about Boston. Kansas picked a song from the band Kansas.
Minnesota? Shockingly went Prince again. It was “Kiss” and “1999,” by Prince and The Revolution.