Lee Greenwood sang his iconic “God Bless the USA” between periods of the NHL’s 2015 “Winter Classic” outdoor game in Washington, DC on New Year’s Day, but the real treat came off-stage in a concourse at Nationals Park. Fortunately, it was recorded on a smart phone, so you can enjoy it this Independence Day.
Gabrielle Dube, an intern for the event, posted it with this description: “After Lee Greenwood’s performance during the intermission, he met with the Military Choir to take pictures and it sparked an impromptu a cappella version of ‘God Bless the USA.’ Amazing!”
Indeed, this is a gem of a spontaneous a cappella version featuring Greenwood with the U.S. Army Chorus, but it has been watched by very few. When I came across it a few weeks ago, Dube’s YouTube post (embedded above) had yet to crack 50 plays. Last I looked, it was at 65.
The Monumental Network also noticed the backstage musical moment and looked at it in a segment on their Caps Red Line online show devoted to the Washington Capitals. Reporter Lindsay Simpson introduced the portion excerpted in the video clip below:
“Perhaps one of the most special moments of the day, however, wasn’t in front of any roaring crowds or big lights, but occurred in the tunnels of Nats Park.”
The video above shows brief scenes of Greenwood singing with the Army soldiers as well as comments from Greenwood and those Army singers.
To watch what earlier aired during NBC's coverage of the 1 PM EST game, check out this YouTube video of Greenwood and the military singers, who you really can’t hear, between the second and third periods of the game between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup a little over five months later, but on this day the hometown Capitals were triumphant.
My view that day:
Earlier: National Anthem w/ 5 branches of military, flag on ice, teams line up beyond #WinterClassic pic.twitter.com/uPgHUCy4PK
— Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) January 1, 2015
