The past year has been full of ups and downs for Tampa Bay Lightning national anthem singer Sonya Bryson-Kirksey. Whenever you see her on TV or at Amalie Arena, you see the smile and big energy she brings when she delivers her powerful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. But when she got COVID-19 last year, she was hospitalized. For weeks she was unable to get comfort from her husband Jimmy. Lightning fans were fearing the worst but hoping for the best. She pulled through and it was an emotional night for everyone at Amalie Arena when Sonya was able to perform the national anthem on opening night this season.
Since then, Sonya has continued her work to fight multiple sclerosis. This Saturday, Walk MS Tampa Bay at Al Lopez Park in Tampa is your chance to meet Sonya and help her win the fight. It's personal to her. She has MS herself. Sonya will perform the national anthem and then walk with her team "Puck MS" to hopefully raise $10,000. She's not at the halfway point yet, so she could really use your help. That can be by walking, donating... or even just sharing this chat I had with her this morning.
We talked about her life since her COVID-19 scare. We also get into the musical instruments she's tried to learn to play over the years and we find out what other songs she likes to sing when she's not belting out The Star Spangled Banner.
You know she loves The Star Spangled Banner! She sings it beautifully at Amalie Arena during Bolts home games. But we asked Sonya Bryson-Kirksey which Q105 songs she loves to sing in the car!
The Tampa Bay Lightning are representing Champa Bay!
Lightning definitely struck twice and Lord Stanley is here to stay. Here's a look at the fun going on along the Hillsborough River celebrating their win!
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, center, celebrates during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
A view of a fan boat during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Ondrej Palat of the Tampa Bay Lightning is sprayed with champagne during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning, left, and Erik Cernak spray champagne during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Blake Coleman of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Mathieu Joseph of the Tampa Bay Lightning, left, and Anthony Cirelli pose during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup as Steven Stamkos, left and Luke Schenn, right, celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Yanni Gourde of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with fans during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Lightning Boat Parade
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Vince Lombardi trophy during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning brings the Stanley Cup up the dock during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik celebrates with fans during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
TAMPA, FL - JULY 12: Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup while driving Nikita Kucherov #86 during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Luke Schenn of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Erik Cernak of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with fans during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Victory Boat Parade
Knight/Beasley
Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Victory Boat Parade
Knight/Beasley
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
TAMPA, FL - JULY 12: Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup while driving Nikita Kucherov #86 during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Lightning Boat Parade
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Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Blake Coleman of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Luke Schenn of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Victory Boat Parade
Knight/BeasleyEven the supermarkets are joining in the fun!
Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Victory Boat Parade
Pitts/BeasleyCelebration at the park might be cut short... clouds move in!
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
TAMPA, FL - JULY 12: Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup while driving Nikita Kucherov #86 during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Lightning Boat Parade
Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Victory Boat Parade
Knight/Beasley
Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Victory Boat Parade
Knight/Beasley
Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Victory Boat Parade
Knight/Beasley
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
A fan looks on during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Mikhail Sergachev of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup as Andrei Vasilevskiy bends over near his Conn Smythe trophy during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Mikhail Sergachev of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup ad Andrei Vasilevskiy raises the Conn Smythe trophy during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning shows off the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning shows off the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds up the Conn Smythe trophy during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning, center, during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, center and Andrei Vasilevskiy, right, celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Alex Killorn of the Tampa Bay Lightning drives Nikita Kucherov during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning Boat Parade
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
