Christian Woman Slays Performance of National Anthem at Lincoln Memorial
Star Genleah Swain, an assistant principal at Jefferson County Middle/High School in Florida, is now the toast of the internet after an impromptu video of her delivering a powerful and captivating performance of the National Anthem at the Lincoln Memorial while on vacation went viral.
The video, recorded June 16, has been viewed more than 7 million times on Facebook after R&B singer Nay Michelle shared it on her page on June 24.
Swain, 34, told the Tallahassee Democrat that she and her family were in Washington, D.C. on vacation two weeks ago with Marcus Henderson, minister of music at her church, and his family, along with Godby High Assistant Principal Benny Bolden and his family when the recording was done.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The video starts with the cameraman trying to coax a reluctant Swain into singing and when she eventually takes on the challenge her singing quickly commanded the attention of the wandering tourists around her who cheered her loudly when she eventually stopped singing.
WATCH AND LISTEN AS STAR SWAIN SINGS
"People just started saying 'that was awesome, thank you,'" Swain told the Democrat.
"One lady had tears in her eyes. I was kind of glad it was over. It was like a sigh of relief," she said, noting that she had no idea Henderson was recording her.
"I was in that moment. I just closed my eyes and started singing," she said.
While many seeing the video for the first time were surprised by Swain's talent, Pastor Quincy Griffin of Family Worship and Praise Center in Tallahassee where the assistant principal serves as the praise and worship leader, said he had been waiting for her talents to be shared with the world.
"I've seen her captivate audiences. I've been waiting to see her captivate the world," Griffin said. "Her voice, it's not just ordinary, it's extraordinary. Her voice is bigger than singing. People get freed of sadness, depression. It's a healing that's even beyond the words that she sings."
Swain says the response to her singing from around the country has been "overwhelming."
"I'm in complete shock right now," she told the Democrat. "We pray that great opportunities touch more lives in this way through music. I'm hoping that it will open up floodgates so we can do great things, for myself and others. If I can do this with the gift that God gave me to touch more lives, then that is what I want to do."
Yanela G.McLeod, a long-time friend of Swain's and fellow church member, told the Democrat that she is pleased to see her friend taking her musical calling to a higher level.
"The fact that she sang the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial has played a major role in having people connect to that experience. She is connecting to people who are proud to be Americans," McLeod said. "It is beautiful to watch God use this social media platform to present her purpose and anointing to the world. She is so deserving."
