Brings Tears to Your Eyes': Did You Catch Stirring Rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' Before Panthers-49ers Game?

Image source: YouTube raw video

For Jesse McGuire, playing America's national anthem before sporting events isn't exactly a novelty. The well-known trumpeter has been doing it for years, as is evidenced by several videos of him serenading crowds before World Series games and elsewhere.

But McGuire turned in a performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the NFL playoff game between the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers Sunday that's drawing major kudos everywhere. Some say it rivals other famous renditions, including the performance Whitney Houston turned in before Super Bowl XXV.

Here's McGuire rocking the house via YouTube raw video:

Most arresting would seem to be McGuire's ending, in which he took the highest notes up an extra octave...and by itself deserves a standing ovation.

Image source: YouTube raw video

Here's what others had to say:

Image source: Twitter via Twitchy

Image source: Twitter via Twitchy

(H/T: Twitchy)