Off The Record
No One Was Willing To Sing The National Anthem, Until One High Schooler Took Off His Helmet And Grabbed A Guitar
A impassioned performance of the Star-Spangled Banner is one of the few things that truly gets the blood pumping.
Just ask anyone who saw Jackson Dean Nicholson’s performance as a senior defensive end at Maryland’s Arundel High School…
We’re not referring to his performance during the game, but rather to how he sang the national anthem before it. It impressed the local audience in addition to thousands of online users over the years.
According to sources, Nicholson was faced with a choice when he realized that no one else was available to sing the national anthem before his school’s game.
Of course, he could have either allowed the school to play a tape over the speakers or allowed the audience to sing the song themselves.
However, Nicholson seems to be made of a different material.
The teenager from high school took the field alone before the game, carrying only an acoustic guitar and a microphone.
It’s hardly surprising that the video ended up being a viral sensation that has repeatedly resurfaced because he provided one of the best renditions of the American national anthem we’ve ever heard right away.
The fact that the video, which was first posted in 2018, is still striking and relevant today is evidence of how brilliantly Nicholson sings.
“It was very cool. I probably knew 90 percent of the people sitting in those stands, and they had no idea I was doing it ‘til I brought my guitar out,” Nicholson explained to the Baltimore Sun at the time.
For his five minutes of fame, Nicholson may have been outfitted as a senior defensive end, but his main love in life is music.
Since he was a freshman, he has been writing and performing songs, and right before he went viral, he was working on his own album.
He correctly chose the stage name Jackson Dean because Jack Nicholson is already a reasonably well-known actor.
Jackson declared in 2018 on his football career: “This is my last year, then I’m done. I’ve got until January, I’ll have all my credits done, and I only have to be enrolled for this semester. I got a waiver by my principal and she’s very supportive of what I do.
“I’m going to go for it.”
Best of luck, Jackson!
We are blown away by Jackson’s performance and want as many people as possible to watch it.
Check out the stunning performance below:
Share this article if you agree that Jackson’s attempt was amazing to show your support!
