In the world of televised spectator sports, there’s one thing the crowds love to see besides a winning score.

After the national anthem became a necessary ritual at the beginning of war-time baseball matches, singing the Star-spangled Banner has been a “sought-after honor” for musicians and artists alike. We see it in NBA matches, Olympic podium finishes, the Superbowl, and of course, matches for the NHL.

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In the long list of musicians who sang their own rendition of the song, hockey fans will never forget the simple yet powerful performance by country singer Keith Urban. He opened Game 3 of the 2017 Western Conference Finals at the Bridgestone Arena.

The Nashville Predators are known to bring big celebrities to sing the anthem.

Urban joined this roster together with Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Little Big Town, Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum, and Kelly Clarkson. If that’s not a star-studded ensemble, we don’t know what is!

Urban marched into the ice rink and to the audience’s roaring reception.

The four-time Grammy award winner quickly hushed the cheers into quiet and solemn anticipation when he began singing.

His rendition, even from the start, wasn’t infused with the extra flair and showmanship prowess.

It is simple, almost like how everyone sings it. That is if you disregard the natural pureness of his vocals and the strength of his notes. It’s a rendition you’d sing along to, much like how the song was intended to be, rather than watch it like a performance spectacle. So it’s not really surprising that the crowd is feeling every word that he’s singing.

And as he belted the last notes and the iconic lines “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” the crowd just can’t help but respond in a roaring cheer.

While the song has meant a lot for Americans over the years it’s been performed, Urban shared with Jon Morosi from NHL that this experience was meaningful for him as well.

Urban has been living in the United States for over 25 years but this was the first time the Australian-born country singer was asked to sing the national anthem.

“It’s a nerve-wracking experience, but above all, it’s a huge honor. For me, for all the years I’ve lived here one of the proudest moments ever in my life.” Urban responded to the interview.

During the match, he sat alongside his wife Nicole Kidman who he shared was the bigger hockey fan in the relationship.

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Urban has just recently released his newest single “Wild Hearts.”

The song is a loose autobiography of the country singer that touches on themes of perseverance and determination. It alludes to snippets of his life including the childhood memory of seeing Johnny Cash in a concert with his father.

The song is part of his latest album The Speed of Now Part 1, featuring collaborations with Pink, Breland, and Nile Rodgers.

Watch the beautiful performance below.

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Source: YouTube – SPORTSNET, NHL, Tennessean, Rolling Stones, Instagram – @keithurban, Mental Floss