At Thursday night’s 2021 NFL season-opening matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, singer Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child) teamed up with keyboard virtuoso Cory Henry to put a unique spin on the pre-game national anthem performance.
Swirling with a range of sounds, synths, and organ swells, the Michelle Williams/Cory Henry arrangement of the anthem moved forward with tempo and purpose while maintaining the enveloping vibe of Marvin Gaye‘s iconic rendition.
As Williams hit well-selected rhythmic marks with precision-adjusted cadence, Henry’s textured jazz-gospel accompaniment gave the performance a warm, celestial ambiance.
Watch Michelle Williams and Cory Henry perform the national anthem ahead of the 2021 season-opening NFL game in Tampa below.
Michelle Williams & Cory Henry – “The Star-Spangled Banner” – 2021 NFL Kickoff
[Video: Cory Henry]
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Cory Henry is on tour this year with a variety of band lineups. Notable tour stops include a run of shows at New York’s iconic Blue Note later this month and a pair of Colorado shows with fellow master keyboardist/composer Robert Glasper in December. For a full list of Henry’s upcoming tour dates, head here.
Michelle Williams recently released her memoir, Checking In: How Getting Real About Depression Saved My Life—and Can Save Yours, and launched an accompanying podcast, Checking In with Michelle Williams.