At twenty years old, Sierra Ferrell left her hometown of West Virginia behind and began traveling. She spent the next few years hitchhiking, riding trains and living out of her van, busking between Seattle and New Orleans to earn some money. If you think that lifestyle sounds tailor-made for a career in country-folk music, you’re not wrong. And that’s exactly what Ferrell developed when her song “Dreams” blew up on YouTube in 2018. The “Bells of Every Chapel” singer brought fantasy to NASCAR when she performed the national anthem on Sunday (June 30).
Sierra Ferrell performs the national anthem at the Nashville race
Sierra Ferrell took the stage on Sunday (June 30) at Nashville Superspeedway before the Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. And the “American Dreaming” singer brought everyone back to her red, white and blue roots with her version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“Sierra Ferrell Singing the National Anthem at the NASCAR Race, Today I am a Patriot” wrote A fan. “Sierra Ferrell is an absolute legend,” another X user noted, adding that she is a “mega fantastic artist.”
Sierra Ferrell singing the national anthem at the NASCAR race, today I am a patriot
— Lauren Helms (@LaurenAHelms) June 30, 2024
While Ferrell certainly delivered, some fans are wondering why Luke Combs, who attended the race, wasn’t the one to sing the anthem.
And why doesn’t Luke Combs sing the National Anthem?
– angielovesnascar (@nascarchick8848) June 30, 2024
(RELATED: Lukas Nelson Enlists Sierra Ferrell for the “Cover We Didn’t Know We Needed,” Tells Adele “You’re Gonna Do Country Whether You Like It or Not”)
With his latest album Trail of Flowers, which came out in March, Ferrell aimed to “create something that makes people nostalgic for the past, but excited about the future of music.” The album’s critical reception suggests that Ferrell accomplished just that. The 35-year-old West Virginia native makes audiences feel something with every note she sings, and “The Star-Spangled Banner” is no exception.
Hear Sierra’s Alternate Version on Featured Sports KeynoteUSA Track ‘Trail of Flowers’
Sierra Ferrell released “American Dreaming” in March, ahead of the release of her sophomore album, Trail of Flowers. For Ferrell, the lyrics reflect her tortuous path to stardom. But there’s something in there for all of us who have ever relentlessly pursued a dream at the expense of everyday life. “I’ve been dreaming of American / But I never seem to rest,” Ferrell sings in her lilting timbre.
Ahead of his NASCAR performance, Ferrell released a live alternate take of “American Dreaming” on Friday (June 28). Listen below.
Featured Sports KeynoteUSA image by Rebecca Sapp//Keynote USA/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
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