Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Robin Meade Tabbed For Daytona Anthem Duty


Robin Meade, host of Morning Express with Robin Meade on HLN, will sing the National Anthem for the 54th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 7 at Daytona International Speedway. 

Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards extended the invitation on Morning Express on Tuesday morning. 

HLN's Robin Meade
“Robin Meade is one of the most popular morning show hosts in America and we’re delighted to have her take part in the pre-race festivities for the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola,” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. “With the thousands of race fans in attendance at the ‘World Center of Racing’ and millions more watching on TNT, we look forward to Robin’s rendition of the National Anthem.” 

“Singing and race cars have long been a part of my life" says Meade, whose father spent years rebuilding and drag racing street cars on Ohio raceways. “I feel so at home around the roar of the engines and the enthusiastic NASCAR crowd, many of whom I count as part of HLN’s morning TV family! I feel so honored to perform the National Anthem at the Coke Zero 400 in front of the racing community and fans.” 

Meade has anchored HLN’s coverage of such high profile stories as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the January 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama. 

In July of 2008, she scored the exclusive first interview with freed American hostages – at their request – after their release from Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) captors. In June of 2009, Meade performed a tandem skydive with President George Herbert Walker Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine, to commemorate President Bush’s 85th birthday. Meade is also the face of HLN’s “Salute to Troops” segment, a daily message to U.S. troops using photos and videos sent in by their loved ones. 

Meade’s debut country album, “Brand New Day,” was released in June 2011 to strong reviews. The album features original songs, many of which were co-written by Meade, as well as a cover of Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry.” Meade collaborated with industry heavy-hitters like John Rich, American Idol’s Bo Bice, and producer/song writer Victoria Shaw (Lady Antebellum). “Brand New Day” reached #25 on iTunes its first week of release. In April, the album was re-released with bonus tracks, including the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun.” 

The stars of NASCAR return to Daytona International Speedway on July 6-7, 2012. Tickets to the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, featuring a special hour-long pre-race concert by multiplatinum, Grammy-winning superstars Train, and the Subway Jalapeno 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online athttp://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com

4 comments:

  1. Excellent choice!!

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  2. She's smokin hot. I've watched her for a few years now. However, she's done an anthem before... I may still have a trickle of blood coming from my left ear from that one. Her talents are better suited to looking good in the morning, and reading news to us. She's one of those American Idol type anthem singers. You know, the one that wants to make it "their own"? Thank God for the FF button on the DVR,and the MUTE button on the home theater.

    In this case, not so gruntled.

    But she is hot!

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  3. Anonymous3:28 PM

    Amen, Tedstryker. I'm still reeling from the one she sang at a race last year. She'd better stick to reading the news.

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  4. Geosez10:28 AM

    O.K. One more time. I am sick unto death of having the anthem "performed". Here's my idea: have the local high school band (or a small portion of same) come in to play, put the words on whatever Jumbotron the track has and have the band LEAD THE CROWD IN SINGING the anthem, in exchange for tickets to the race. This serves at least three purposes: you have a proper playing of our national anthem, you fill up those seats that are covered by tarps and you create new fans for our sport. Have you noticed how more and more the anthem has become a dirge(funeral march)? Not only does it wreak havoc with the pre-race schedule (can't slow down that fly-over very much!) it also says something about how we view our country. In my (not-so) humble opinion.

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