Cornelison thrilled to be anthem performer this Sunday
Jim Cornelison is holed up this week, nursing a bit of a cold and marveling at how his fame exploded over rumors that “American Idol” winner Lee DeWyze — and not Cornelison — would sing the “Star Spangled Banner” before Sunday's Bears-Packers game.
“It's all been insane,” said Cornelison from his Old Irving Park home. “I'm not privy to what went down behind the scenes, but someone with the Bears organization went to bat for me and I'm very, very grateful.”
The bat the Bears swung ensured that Cornelison will be back for the anthem this Sunday, while DeWyze will perform at halftime.
Cornelison spent several days in Florida singing a corporate gig. He flew back Tuesday night and since then reporters have been calling nonstop. More than a million people have seen a YouTube video of his powerful anthem performance last Sunday before the Bears-Seahawks game, and his Facebook page is overrun with “friend” requests from all over the world.
Which only makes him more pumped for this coming Sunday.
“Oh man, Sunday will be the biggest venue and I can't wait,” he said. “You know, I didn't think last Sunday was even one of my best performances. I sounded a little lower than I wanted to.”
Cornelison is in his fourth season as the Blackhawks' full-time national anthem singer, although he's made regular appearances at the United Center since 1996.
A Virginia native, he sang with various opera companies before coming to Chicago in 1995 for the Lyric Opera's apprenticeship program.
Cornelison — who watched “Idol” last year, thanks to his daughter — said he may be able to drop his day job in real estate and concentrate on singing full time.
He doesn't think of the minor flap this week as a contest between him and DeWyze.
“I've been a singer for a long time and I know there are a lot more singers than there are jobs,” he said. “I'm lucky.”
On Wednesday, Bears spokesman Scott Hagel explained the NFL had booked DeWyze for the NFC championship game before anyone knew which teams would play in it.
His choice wasn't a big surprise, since the Fox network, which will broadcast the NFC championship, routinely promotes “American Idol” on its football games. Last season, “Idol” winner Kris Allen sang the anthem before the Saints-Vikings game in New Orleans.
The show's 10th season began airing this week.
The Fox network didn't return calls Wednesday, but Hagel said when the Bears beat the Seahawks, the team convinced the league to book Cornelison for the anthem and move DeWyze to the halftime show.
“We knew how great the fan reaction was to (Cornelison's) performance on Sunday,” Hagel said. “We want to create the best fan experience and it's really tough to beat Jim Cornelison.”
Hagel added the Bears have “absolutely nothing against Lee DeWyze.”
“Now we'll have a local recording artist preforming at halftime,” he said. “It's the best of both worlds.”
DeWyze or his representatives couldn't be reached Tuesday or Wednesday, but he tweeted a few times on Tuesday.
“Thanks to all who really support me and my MUSIC,” he wrote. “Thank you, and I really do appreciate it. Go Bears.”
Meanwhile, Cornelison is resting up. He'll open Sunday by singing at the 11:30 a.m. Blackhawks game before the Bears game at 2 p.m.
“I really don't feel well today,” he said Wednesday between coughs. “I'm taking meds and drinking lots of fluids but it makes me nervous. It's a bad feeling to be fighting a cold when you depend on your voice.
Still, he pointed out he had the same cold last Sunday. “I won't let anyone down,” he promised.