Sara Evans has spent most of her career in Nashville, yet the country songstress has her deepest roots in Tigers country. On Saturday, Evans will sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" for tens of thousands before Missouri plays Alabama at Memorial Stadium.

Evans was born in Boonville, Mo. and raised on a farm near New Franklin. She spent two years as a teenager singing at a Columbia nightclub before moving to Nashville in 1991. Since her debut album was released in 1997, Evans has released five more records and sold more than five million units in total. She has won Video of the Year from the Country Music Association, Female Vocalist of the Year from R&R magazine and the Academy of Country Music Awards, and Top Female Vocalist from the Academy.

Missouri and Alabama will kick off their SEC contest at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on CBS.