CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 20: Singer-songwriter Jewel performs on the Main Stage during the first day of The Wellness Experience by Kroger at The Banks on August 20, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Duane Prokop/Getty Images for The Wellness Experience by Kroger)
Jewel’s rendition of the Nation Anthem at the Indianapolis 500 is receiving wildly mixed reviews.
Jewel Kilcher, who is known for her songs such as “Intuition” and “You Were Meant For Me,” performed a slower and more “soulful” version of the anthem than the traditional one, leaving the audience sharply divided in their reactions.
The race was held on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where she performed for the crowd.
On social media platforms, fans are fiercely debating the performance.
Some people enjoyed this version of the song, saying, “She knew all the lyrics and sang it beautifully. It was a lil different but she ain’t the first, won’t be last.”
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Conservative talk show host Glenn Beck agreed with this viewpoint, tweeting: “Some are saying @jeweljk’s rendition of the National Anthem at the Indy 500 was controversial but I heard it live in the stands and LOVED IT. I was so choked up it was hard for me to even speak. Indiana, Jewel: THANK YOU.”
Another fan said: “I was expecting to hate it hearing the uproar. I thought it was a nice arrangement and fit her style. […] There has certainly been much worse renditions of our national anthem than this one.”
Others disagreed and believed that it was “disrespectful” and that she should’ve sung the original version.
One person tweeted: “I will agree that Jewel sang the National Anthem much better than some others I’ve heard. But this is a song that should stand alone and be sung as it was originally created. This song represents so much more than the start of sports. It represents all of the blood, sweat, tears and lives of our military personnel given to keep our country free to enjoy those sports. Please honor them by singing this song as it was originally created. This is the one song in this country that people do not need to try to improve or impress others with by singing it in their own style.”
“Not only was this terrible it was disrespectful the national anthem isn’t something to change and put ‘personal touches’ on,” tweeted another critic.
Another slammed her: “Jewel butchered the national anthem at the Indy 500. People were trying to sing along but couldn’t because of the way she sang it. What a shame.”
This is not the first time Jewel has sung the national anthem at an event. A few months before she sang the song at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game using a similar rendition to the Indianapolis 500 event – with little negative reaction.
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