Gretchen Wilson sang the National Anthem ( blended with a voice-over of the Pledge of Allegiance ) to a national audience at the Republican National Convention on September 3 , 2008 , later describing this as a " once-in-a-lifetime " experience at a " historic moment . " Wilson and her band also performed during a rally for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati , Ohio , on October 22 , 2008 , to a crowd of approximately 12,000 supporters . Palin started the rally by exclaiming that she could n't wait to get Wilson 's autograph . Wilson played a version of the Heart song " Barracuda " for Palin
Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
Gretchen Wilson