In Saturday’s (10/18) Kansas City Star, Tim Engle writes that in response to a Kansas City poll asking who should sing the “Star Spangled Banner” for opening night of the World Series in Kansas City on Tuesday, “Homegrown opera star Joyce DiDonato was leading as of Saturday evening with about one-third (32 percent) of the 10,300-plus votes cast so far. In second place, but far behind DiDonato, is former ‘American Idol’ David Cook, a Blue Springs native, with 17 percent…. Fans of DiDonato, who grew up in Prairie Village, have been using the hashtag #LetJoyceSing on Twitter. Two petitions on change.org call for the mezzo-soprano to perform the anthem.… About 2,300 people had signed that petition as of Saturday morning. The other petition, with about 600 supporters so far, calls for DiDonato to sing backed by the Kansas City Symphony. ‘NO WORDS for how fab u guys r. THANK YOU!!’ DiDonato tweeted Friday in response to the online campaigns. … So far there’s been no announcement from the Royals on who will be singing the anthem before the first game Tuesday.” Trailing in the poll were Lorde, Tate Stevens, and Janelle Monae.
Posted October 20, 2014