Sophomore Emree Gabriel may have been raised in a Kansas State family. But on Sunday (today), she’ll be a Jayhawk fan for the day as she sings the national anthem at the KU women’s basketball game.

Gabriel learned about the audition through Sarah Chrislip, the mom of a friend. She auditioned in early October, performing both the national anthem and the university’s alma mater for two judges, alongside other musicians trying out. 

“Originally, we were skeptical about it, because we’re K-State fans,” Gabriel said. “But we thought this would be a really great opportunity, especially because it’s local.”

Gabriel found out in early November that she had been selected.

“There was a lot of jumping and screaming with my mom,” Gabriel said of her reaction to being selected. 

Gabriel has performed the anthem for crowds before. She sang in front of a crowd of about 3,600 people at a minor league hockey game in Mississippi in 2023 and has performed at events for the Kansas Farm Bureau.

Gabriel began singing publicly around age 10. She said her love of singing comes from the joy it brings others.

Her father Jim Gabriel said the family is proud of her accomplishment, even if cheering for a rival school comes with mixed emotions.

“We’re awful proud,” he said. “It’s hard because I bleed purple, but we’re proud of her for going out and being able to do it in front of a crowd.”

Looking ahead, Gabriel hopes to continue growing as a performer, with original music already available on Spotify and dreams of performing at larger venues — and perhaps one day in Nashville.

She said she plans to keep her rendition true to the original.

“You’re not singing it for yourself,” she said. “You’re singing it for the country.”

Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]