A family trip on June 16, to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. thrust Star Swain into the national spotlight when her compelling rendition of the Star Spangled Banner went viral with more than 40 million views online. A moment of moving beyond fear has propelled Swain along her path to fulfilling her dreams.
Since her impromptu performance that stopped tourists in their tracks, Star has become an Internet sensation covered by media outlets throughout the country. She has appeared on major network broadcasts from CBS Evening News with Scott Pelly and Inside Edition, to CNN and FOX and Friends. Star made her television performance debut on July 1, 2016, when she sang the national anthem live on Good Morning America. She has made several guest appearances singing the Star Spangled Banner on national platforms including the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, where she sang the anthem on July 28, 2016 — the same day Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accepted the party’s nomination for president of the United States. In March of 2017, Swain was featured in the “Artist Spotlight” segment of BET’s “Joyful Noise,” a new Sunday morning gospel show hosted by award-winning recording artist Tye Tribbett.
In 2018, Star performed Together As One at the HOPE Global Forums in Atlanta, Georgia, an event that focuses on empowering underserved communities to possess financial dignity and participate in free enterprise. On July 4, 2020, in the midst of the global pandemic and more social unrest, Star Swain released a moving video performance of the song Together As One. The song made the Top 100 iTunes Pop Chart in October of 2020.
Swain released her new gospel project, Pain & Glory, in October, 2021. The released hit single, A Billion People, from the album was recently debuted on Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell, a nationally syndicated gospel radio show hosted by Grammy award-winning gospel artist, Erica Campbell. She will be touring and leading worship at churches throughout the east side of the country in 2022, while still serving as praise and worship leader at The Family Worship & Praise Center in Tallahassee, Florida.
Star Swain was born and raised in Macon, Georgia. She currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband Craig Swain, and her three children Ay’den, Craig, Jr., and Cyrus.