A voice familiar to patrons of the East Tennessee State University Department of Music’s Choral Programs will be heard in the major leagues this Saturday, June 3, when Hannah Lawson Blanton steps to the mic to sing the National Anthem at the Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians baseball game in Minneapolis.
The ETSU alumna, who now works for Delta Airlines as a flight attendant, was selected for this honor after responding to an email from Delta to its Minneapolis-based employees asking for auditions.
The opportunity to sing in public again means a great deal to Blanton, a 2020 ETSU graduate with a degree in vocal music education who worked with Watauga Orthopedics in Johnson City before attending Delta flight attendant training.
“I definitely miss all of the performances and opportunities that I was lucky enough to have at ETSU, and I sadly haven’t had many since graduation and the pandemic,” Blanton said. “Performances with Greyscale, Chorale, the East Tennessee Belles, Opera Theatre and even the men’s choir and jazz band continue to be some of my absolute favorite memories. I performed on a smaller scale several times with friends – at Christmas parties and for charity events – and I also sang at a few baseball games!”
Blanton is thankful for her time at ETSU, which she said was a period of major personal growth. The university is home to a vibrant community, hosting dozens of concerts, exhibitions and performances each year.
“I grew up fairly quiet and kept to myself quite a bit,” the Kingsport native said. “When I started doing theater in high school, I began to figure out who I was. In college, I met my husband and so many lifelong friends, and I was able to come out of my shell on stage time and time again. I realized that I am much more extroverted than I thought and got so many amazing opportunities to meet new people, express myself and explore the world.
“These experiences – especially when I went with Chorale to Europe in 2019 – are a huge factor that led to my decision to apply at Delta. Now I get to travel the world and meet new people every single day. It’s an absolute dream.”
Blanton said her work with Delta, which she began nearly six months ago, is boosting her progress toward achieving her goals of visiting all 50 states and every continent and saving for a down payment on a new home. She also enjoys getting to know the city of Minneapolis a little better every chance she gets.
The Twins-Guardians game will air Saturday on Fox at 7:15 EST. It will also stream on MLB Extra Innings and foxsports.com.