KY Gold Star Mom Performs Alongside Country Music Star Trace Adkins

In early 2025, Cathy Mullins, a local music teacher and singer, got the opportunity to perform at Bridgestone Arena with country music superstar Luke Bryan. Luke sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the Nashville Predators. Cathy performed the Canadian National Anthem on behalf of their opponents.

READ MORE: Kentucky Teacher Performs National Anthem Alongside Country Star Luke Bryan

Over the weekend, Cathy added another huge milestone to her resume as a Predators performer. She was invited to sing alongside another country music 'giant'. This time, she joined Trace Adkins for the pregame ceremonies.

Like Luke, Trace performed the National Anthem. Cathy, a Gold Star mother, performed "America the Beautiful". She did it wearing her late son Brandon's tags.

Brandon was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan back in 2011. He was just 21-years-old.

Since then, Cathy and her husband Tommy have kept his memory alive in a variety of profoundly impactful ways. They created the Brandon Scott Mullins Memorial Foundation, which provides scholarships to local students. In addition to that, Cathy continues using her platform and voice to perform in Brandon's honor at venues and at events around the country. She became a permanent fixture for the Nashville Predators following a 2017 contest in which the team had an open casting call to fill its roster of National Anthem performers.

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Cathy, who sometimes refers to Brandon as 'B Rad' and 'Bran Man', says her son is forever 21. That particular number has huge significance for the Mullins family and did so again yesterday. It was March 21st.  Cathy says, since Brandon's death, she "finds these God winks all the time."

She adds, "That's just the way I live now. Even in the darkest times, there is light and hope."

She's not wrong. That voice of Cathy's continues to light up Bridgestone Arena.