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.
“I’m sorry, but the National Anthem should NEVER, be changed up like this. Good artist, bad choice!” one user wrote.
“One of the worst National Anthem performances I’ve ever seen in my life. Not Roseanne bad, but up there,” another added.
“This is the perfect example of how not to do the national anthem. It was to the point of being disrespectful,” one chimed in.
“Not only was this terrible it was disrespectful the national anthem isn’t something to change and put ‘personal touches’ on,” another one said.
“You’re given the honor of singing the National Anthem at the biggest spectacle in racing, and you decide to rewrite the music? I’m all for being creative and putting your own “personal” touch to it, but that was way too much!” one user commented.
Others however, seemed to share a different opinion:
“I don’t see or hear anything disrespectful or offensive. It takes guts and talent to add a personal touch to an anthem,” one user wrote.
“Don’t see what all the commotion is..it is her style and fits her voice range tbh..not a tan but also not the worst…” another added.
“I don’t get what the issue is. Sounds respectful to me. Sounds melodic,” one commented.
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