Up Next

Get Lifted

You’ll never forget this rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’

These Lincoln Memorial tourists will always remember Star Swain

Not everyone is bold enough to hit a note in public, in front of tourists, while channeling the late singer Whitney Houston. Well, it was no big deal for 34-year-old Star Swain.

While touring the national monuments in Washington, D.C., a few weeks ago, the Florida A&M University graduate performed an impromptu version of The Star-Spangled Banner at the Lincoln Memorial. Her friends recorded her and she posted the video on YouTube. The video has officially gone viral, gaining more than 14 million views.

According to WCTV, Swain is the interim principal at Jefferson County Middle/High School in Tallahassee, Florida.

“I love most the fact that I’m able to touch other people, the fact that I’m able to encourage and uplift and inspire through the gift that God has given me,” she said.

Swain’s friends noted the nice acoustics at the monument and put her on the spot to sing on Facebook Live.

“I’m scared,” Swain said. But her friends encouraged her and she captivated tourists from the first few bars.

“I was in that moment. I just closed my eyes and started singing,” she told Tallahasee.com. “People just started saying, ‘That was awesome. Thank you.’ One lady had tears in her eyes. I was kind of glad it was over. It was like a sigh of relief.”

Kelley Evans is a digital producer at Andscape. She is a food passionista, helicopter mom and an unapologetic Southerner who spends every night with the cast of The Young and the Restless by way of her couch.