Finally, Our Ears Get A Break

One of the hardest things to sing, especially in public is the Star Spangled Banner. Let's face it, it's a hard song. It has large jumps, a huge range, and doesn't sit well in the voice. And yet in this day of uber patriotism, we now make a big deal out of it at sporting events, to "mixed" results:

Thankfully that's about to change at this year's Super Bowl.

Renee Fleming is going to sing the National Anthem this year.

That's right. Forget about Cher, forget about Mariah, forget about Alicia, forget about Whitney. ReRe is in the House.

Sometimes known as "The People's Diva", Ms. Fleming has sung everything from grand opera to musical theater to jazz to releasing an album of pop covers. She is a four time Grammy winner and a fourteen time nominee. She is the inspiration for the Ann Patchett novel "Bel Canto," a dessert created by Daniel Boulud, a designer fragrance and a custom-made iris. President Obama has also presented her with the National Medal for the Arts by President Obama at the White House in 2012 - the highest honor given to artists by the government.

Feast your ears (and eyes) on ReRe below the Chee-to: