VIDEO: Sonya Bryson Singing The U.S. and Canadian National Anthems
It has been decided by the powers that be (whoever they are), that the national anthem will have celebrity singers for the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. For Tampa Bay Lightning fans excited to see the Bolts playing for the Cup, an essential part of the experience is missing – the voice of Sonya Bryson. She electrifies the fans at Amalie Arena with her powerful voice and her story is truly inspiring.
Many know Sonya’s military background as a retired Air Force Sergeant. But not all realize she battles Multiple Sclerosis. When you see her belt out the national anthem, she’s strong and invincible. In a chat I had with Sonya before the whole world shut down, we talked about the struggles she faces daily… sometimes even while she’s on the ice singing for thousands at Amalie Arena. Plus, most importantly, the ladies on my Twitter asked that I get the scoop – where does Sonya get that glittery Lightning blue lipstick? She sort of gives an answer.
Since we won’t hear from Sonya tonight, maybe show her your support by making a small donation and mentioning her fight to let the National MS Society know how much she means to Tampa Bay!
Photos from the Tampa Bay Lightning 2020 Playoff Run!
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates the series win against the New York Islanders in the first overtime period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner and chief legal officer of the National Hockey League (NHL) presents the Prince of Wales Trophy to the Tampa Bay Lightning after winning the Eastern Conference Championship over the New York Islanders in Game Six during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders and head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning shake hands after the Lightning's 2-1 overtime victory in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the New York Islanders during the first overtime period to win Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner and chief legal officer of the National Hockey League (NHL) presents the Prince of Wales Trophy to the Tampa Bay Lightning after winning the Eastern Conference Championship over the New York Islanders in Game Six during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores a goal past Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders during the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the New York Islanders during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Two
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 09: Luke Schenn #2 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Matt Martin #17 of the New York Islanders fight during the second period at Rogers Place on September 09, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner and chief legal officer of the National Hockey League (NHL) presents the Prince of Wales Trophy to captains Alex Killorn #17, Victor Hedman #77, Steven Stamkos #91 and Ryan McDonagh #27 of the Tampa Bay Lightning after winning the Eastern Conference Championship over the New York Islanders in Game Six during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Two
ShareNikita Kucherov is congratulated by his teammates Ondrej Palat and Barclay Goodrow after scoring a goal in the final seconds of the third period against the New York Islanders in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place.
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Two
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 09: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates Ondrej Palat and Barclay Goodrow after scoring a goal in the final seconds of the third period against the New York Islanders in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 09, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the New York Islanders during the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal after scoring the game-winning goal against the New York Islanders during the first overtime period to win Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the New York Islanders during the first overtime period to win Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal after scoring the game-winning goal against the New York Islanders during the first overtime period to win Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Bill Daly, the deputy commissioner and chief legal officer of the National Hockey League (NHL) presents the Prince of Wales Trophy to the Tampa Bay Lightning after winning the Eastern Conference Championship over the New York Islanders in Game Six during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 07: Yanni Gourde #37 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 07, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Four
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by Ryan McDonagh #27 after scoring a goal against the New York Islanders during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 13, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Four
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 13, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Four
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders as Mathew Barzal #13 reacts during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 13, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Six
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders during the first overtime period to win Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 17, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning v New York Islanders – Game Four
ShareEDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 13: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring a goal past Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 13, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Five
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shakes hands with Jaroslav Halak #41 of the Boston Bruins after the Lightning's 3-2 victory during the second overtime period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Five
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: Blake Coleman #20 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shakes hands with Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins after the Lightning's 3-2 victory during the second overtime period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Five
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: The Tampa Bay Lightning shake hands with the Boston Bruins after the Lightning's 3-2 victory during the second overtime period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Five
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: Head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins reacts against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first overtime period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Five
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins and Zach Bogosian #24 of the Tampa Bay Lightning exchange words during the second period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Five
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: Pat Maroon #14 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates as the game-winning goal from teammate Victor Hedman (not pictured) goes past Jaroslav Halak #41 of the Boston Bruins during the second overtime period to win Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game Five
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 31: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is tended to by the trainer after sustaining an injury on a high-sticking penalty by Zdeno Chara (not pictured) of the Boston Bruins during the first period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 31, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Columbus Blue Jackets v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareBrayden Point #21 and the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate his game winning goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 10:27 of the fifth overtime period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Lightning defeated the Blue Jackets at 10:27 of the fifth overtime which made the game the four longest in NHL history.
Columbus Blue Jackets v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 11: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning goes up against Zach Werenski #8 and Cam Atkinson #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Columbus Blue Jackets v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 11: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning blocks the net against Gustav Nyquist #14 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Columbus Blue Jackets v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 11: Head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning handles bench duties against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Columbus Blue Jackets v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 11: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning goes back to the crease following a collision with Eric Robinson #50 of the Columbus Blue Jackets (not shown) during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Columbus Blue Jackets v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 11: Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets wrestles Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning along the boards during the second period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Columbus Blue Jackets v Tampa Bay Lightning – Game One
ShareTORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 11: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes the first period save on Boone Jenner #38 of the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
