DeGarmo’s national anthem skills called upon

HAMPTON — Singing the national anthem is nothing new to American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo.
“At school, my nickname is the ‘National Anthem Girl,’” Shiloh High School’s DeGarmo said.
But singing the national anthem at a NASCAR race is. And as a lifelong NASCAR fan, DeGarmo said she is thrilled to be singing the national anthem for the Oct. 30 Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Busch Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
DeGarmo will also be signing autographs for fans from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. on the concourse under the Champions Grandstand.
“I finally get to sing for the race,” DeGarmo said. “When I was first asked, I was just totally excited, because I’ve always wanted to perform at the race.”
DeGarmo, a resident of Snellville, said she came by her interest in racing naturally.
“I grew up in the South,” DeGarmo said. “I grew up with racing; I don’t remember a time that I wasn’t a fan.”
DeGarmo said her father, a lifelong Bill Elliott fan, helped get her interested in the sport. But DeGarmo didn’t follow her father’s lead when it was time to pick a favorite driver.
“My favorites are Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” DeGarmo said. “I love them both, even though they’re completely different.”
Although falling just short to eventual American Idol Fantasia Barrino, DeGarmo has enjoyed a multitude of successes since the show.
Her first CD single, “Dreams,” reached No. 1 on the Amazon Charts during pre-sale and sold 64,730 copies in its first week. That CD debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Billboard Single Sales Chart.
A former Miss Teen Georgia and Miss Gwinnett, DeGarmo has another CD, currently untitled, set for release Dec. 7.
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