Navy veteran’s national anthem performance earns ‘best ever’ praise as he shares message of unity

A retired Navy petty officer is earning national attention after his powerful rendition of the national anthem ahead of Saturday's highly anticipated Ole Miss-LSU matchup left some fans calling it the "best ever."

While Generald Wilson described the opportunity to perform at the game as a "blessing," to him, taking the field was about more than setting the stage for the rivalry.

"My point is always to create unity in the national anthem," Wilson told "Fox & Friends First."

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"We have our differences, we have our different opinions. That's just the way it is, [but] that doesn't mean that we shouldn't continue to love each other."

Wilson's message of unity has followed him throughout his "National Anthem Tour," which he said dates back to 1998 and has taken him before countless crowds at major sporting events across the country.

With time, the Navy veteran has become so recognizable to fans that he has noticed resounding enthusiasm before he even begins to sing.

"I'm starting to see the appreciation for patriotism, the appreciation for me singing," Wilson said. "It warms my heart. It makes me feel good. Before they even say my name, the crowd is going bananas, just to see me on the jumbotron."

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Wilson has also become a familiar voice for Ole Miss fans, returning to perform at a special game nearly every year since around 2012.

This year, Wilson returned for the Rebels' heated matchup against LSU, a team now led by former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.

"That crowd is awesome," Wilson said. "That's all I got to say about that."

Wilson also touched on his unlikely path to the national spotlight, recalling how his grandfather — whom the family called "Papa" — made a prediction about his future when he was just five years old.

"He told my uncles and my mom, like, 'You see that young man? He's gonna be somebody,'" Wilson recalled.

Expectations were not always high for those growing up in his hometown of Kinloch, Missouri, Wilson said, but he takes pride in the people who have gone on to pursue their calling.

"Most people say you wouldn't amount to too much coming out of there, but there are quite a few people that came out and are doing what God has called them to do," he said.

"So I'm just glad to be in that number."