Been watching this year's NFR on CBSSN. Been on the past several days, each session for 3hours showing a mixture of events.
What is really nice they show the start of every day with various groups or person singing the National Anthem. A rider is in the center of the darkened arena but highlighted by a spot light. She is holding a large American flag. After the anthem is played there is the crowd cheering and or applauding! Nice to see the proper respect shown by the audience, and performers, as well as the announcers!

Never miss the broadcast of the NFR—all 10 go-rounds. Been too long since our last trip to LV to see a couple perfs.

I remember my grandparents going back when it was in OKC.

quote:

Originally posted by Herknav:
I remember my grandparents going back when it was in OKC.

This year, Reba McIntire sang the National Anthem one night. I never saw the NFR in OKC, but I remember well talking to someone I knew about the young woman who blew everyone away in singing The Star Spangled Banner—Reba.

Your “grandparents?!?” Crap, I really AM old

An uncle of mine went three years in a row during the early 90's as a team roper. He was the heeler. It was something to watch him throw the lasso when I was a young man.

TMats, I saw Reba sing at the Steer Roping Finals in Laramie in 1976.
She was a fresh faced girl and just blew everyone away with her talent.
Her Dad and brother both were in the Finals.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleAdobe:
TMats, I saw Reba sing at the Steer Roping Finals in Laramie in 1976.
She was a fresh faced girl and just blew everyone away with her talent.
Her Dad and brother both were in the Finals.

Early in her career she used to wear a trophy buckle when she performed. She was married to Charlie Battles, who won a Steer Wrestling Championship with with the IRA, and also appeared in the NFR. He later bought out another stock contractor and produced rodeos as Charlie Battles Rodeo CompNy for awhile. He and Reba divorced in the early 80s.