Annie Bosko’s vocal prowess often shines beyond the stage at her latest concert. These days, the “California Cowgirl singer has been wowing stadiums with her stirring renditions of the national anthem—From NASCAR to rodeo, Bosko’s had the honor to be asked to sing perhaps one of the most difficult songs to master—at least in her mind.
“It’s the hardest song you’ll ever sing, ever,” she says. “It’s hard because it jumps an octave. So if you start too high, you’re screwed. You gotta start at the right note. And it starts low and it gets high, you know, it shows everything, and there’s nothing. There’s no band around you.”
This past November, Bosko, who recently released her new album, California Cowgirl, delivered another outstanding performance of the Star Spangled Banner on Monday Night Football, San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium prior to the 49ers hosting the Carolina Panthers.
This wasn’t her only major anthem moment of the year. Annie’s voice soared above the crowd at the Houston Rodeo in March and wowed festivalgoers on the main stage at April’s Stagecoach Festival. Whether it’s in front of football fans, country music lovers, or the electric atmosphere of professional bull riding, Annie’s approach never wavers.
She says she has has several signature moments on her anthem résumé—perhaps none more memorable than her performance at Madison Square Garden for the Professional Bull Riders, which she recalls as a technical and mental test: “It was a challenging one because I had in-ears and they were wired the wrong channels,” she tells host Jeff Tomko on a recent episode on the Country Muscle Podcast. “So when I was singing, I heard like, talking backstage, and I really had to mentally focus right? I had to, like, zone out that and then just sing. And to this day, it was probably one of my best national anthem performances.”
You can check out all of the Annie Bosko interview—as well as every other episode of the Country Muscle Podcast—on the Country Muscle YouTube Channel.
5 Takeaways from the Annie Bosko ‘CMP’ Appearance
1 Fitness as Mental and Physical Therapy: Bosko says fitness today has become more important than just an aesthetic enhancer—it’s an essential therapy for her mind and body. Her workouts help clear her mind and help her accomplish more every day. “I work out because of how it makes me feel. 100% it has nothing to do with the way that it makes me look. It’s just how it makes me feel. And I feel so much better. My brain feels more clear. I feel like I can accomplish so much more in a day if I start with fitness.”
2. Outdoor Time Fuels Wellbeing: Since her days growing up in California, activities like surfing, hiking, and horseback riding have always central to Bosko’s wellness. It’s the one thing she misses most about moving from the West Coast to Nashville. “I’m an outdoor enthusiast. I love hiking, mountains. I love surfing. I’m kind of a tomboy, and I grew up a tomboy, so I’d say that’s probably what I miss the most.”
3. Performance Demands Peak Conditioning: Annie believes that great performances require an athlete’s mindset—stamina, discipline, and regular training for her body, mind, and voice to keep up with hours-long sets. “When I’m, like, regularly training my body, my body, my brain and my voice, like I can plow through three, four hours set like no problem… I’m a believer that you have to train like you’re an athlete.”
4. Get Creative with Nutrition on the Road: Touring challenges Annie’s nutrition routine, but she always finds healthy alternatives, even at big box stores. Planning ahead helps her avoid fast food pitfalls and stick to her nutrient-rich habits. “Sometimes I’ll walk to a Target and I’ll find, like, mixed greens, olive oil, and like a pasta, a garbanzo bean pasta. That to me is better than UberEATS, Domino’s, you know, where I can crush a large pizza.”
5. Dance is Powerful Cross-Training: Dance, in all forms—especially Zumba and an array YouTube routines—has kept Annie’s workouts fun and her body performance-ready. It’s become an integral part of her lifestyle as both a musician and a person. “I love to dance. Sometimes I’ll do like a Zumba dance workout, or, like a YouTube dance workout. I have to move. I don’t like sitting still.”