Snubbed veteran inaugural parade announcer: 'I thought I was going to commit suicide

Charles Brotman announced every inaugural parade for the past 60 years, and when he found out this year would be different, he quite literally thought his life was over.

Brotman, 89, has announced each inaugural parade since President Dwight D. Eisenhower's inauguration in 1957, CNN reported. But this year, President-elect Donald Trump passed over the former voice of the Washington Senators baseball team and tapped 58-year-old Steve Ray.

"I looked at my email, and then I got the shock of my life," Brotman told CNN. "I felt like Muhammad Ali had hit me in the stomach."

"I was disappointed because I thought I would be the announcer. And then when I read the email, I thought I was going to commit suicide," Brotman continued. "It was really terrible."

The venerable announcer told WJLA-TV that the news that he would not announce this year's inaugural parade left him feeling "destroyed."

Despite losing the job, Brotman will still be considered Announcer Chairman Emeritus, according to Presidential Inaugural Committee Director of Communications Boris Epshteyn.

In a statement to WJLA, Epshteyn said:

Since 1957, millions of Americans and countless entertainers have come to recognize Charlie Brotman as the voice of the inaugural parade. The Presidential Inaugural Committee will be proud to honor Charlie as Announcer Chairman Emeritus on Jan. 20. We are thrilled for Steve Ray to be introducing a new generation of Americans to the grand traditions of the inaugural parade.

Ray said he does not believe that he is "replacing" Brotman.

"I'm really just the guy who's next because Charlie is irreplaceable," Ray said. "He's an absolute legend.

Brotman was offered a VIP seat and special recognition during the event, according to WJLA. However, he said he is weighing his options with media outlets.