Oh, Say Can You See

A Chicago Blackhawks game doesn’t start until Jim Cornelison has stepped onto the ice and unleashed his renowned rendition of the national anthem to more than 19,000 attendees at the United Center. As the Blackhawks’ official “Anthem Singer,” Cornelison has become a local and national celebrity, bringing the “Star Spangled Banner” to nearly 200 events across the nation each year.

This year, he’s bringing his talents to the 2019 Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals Awards Banquet.

Before making his way to Chicago, Cornelison graduated from the prestigious Indiana School of Music. In 1995, around the same time Cornelison began his legacy with the Blackhawks, he participated in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s world-renowned apprentice program. Since then, Cornelison has sung the national anthem for events like the Ryder Cup, Monday Night Football, Nascar, the Colbert Report, and more.

On April 27, we’ll ask the 72 National Finalists and their families to rise and remove their hats when Cornelison takes the stage to kick off the 47th annual awards banquet.