CAPE CORAL, Fla., -- At 12:55 pm. just five minutes before NFL Sunday Kickoff, Bubba's Roadhouse hosted a live singer to sing the National Anthem. The owner says the idea came after several networks announced they wouldn't broadcast the Anthem.
“Many of the major networks made the decision not to show the National Anthem," said Bubba's Roadhouse owner, Jay Johnson, following CBS and ESPN's announcement they wouldn't broadcast the anthem before NFL games. "It wasn’t a business decision, it was a patriotic decision.”
Johnson brought in singer Jennifer Beaudoin, who has sung the anthem in front of President Trump. However, she says today was personal.
“If somebody wants to kneel, they can kneel, if somebody wants to stand they can stand," said Beaudoin, referencing NFL players kneeling during the anthem. “It’s always an honor for me to sing the National Anthem, especially since my father is a military veteran.”
Beaudoin's father, Alain, who served in the Navy, was present for her performance. He says now-a-days he hardly watches the games, he just checks scores. He says it's been difficult for him to watch players kneeling.
“[Veterans are] trying to fight for our freedom, so when you see something like that, some guys can kneel because they ain’t got no knees.”
Johnson tells Fox 4 he’s hasn’t decided whether he will hire a singer every week for NFL Sunday. The event was supposed to be just for kickoff, but he says considering doing it more.
