Baseball season is almost here, and the Knoxville Smokies are doing something they have never done before: holding open auditions for National Anthem singers at Covenant Health Park.
The team needs to fill 69 spots - one for every home game of the 2026 season - and they are taking submissions from anyone across East Tennessee who thinks they have what it takes.
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How the Auditions Work
This is not a cattle-call audition where you stand in line at the ballpark. The whole process is online. Head to the Smokies audition page and submit a video of yourself singing - either the National Anthem or a song of your choice - and the team reviews it.
The audition portal is already open and submissions have been rolling in. With only 69 slots for the entire season, you probably do not want to wait until the last minute.
Why This Is Worth Your Time
This is the first time the Smokies have run open auditions for the anthem. The idea is to get more community members involved in the game-day experience rather than cycling through the same handful of singers every season.
Selected singers could also perform at other events hosted at Covenant Health Park throughout the year, not just Smokies games. So if you have always wanted to sing in front of thousands of people, this is a low-pressure way to make it happen.
The 2026 Season at Covenant Health Park
This will be the Smokies' second season at Covenant Health Park, the 6,355-seat stadium in downtown Knoxville that opened in April 2025. The ballpark sits at 500 East Jackson Avenue, connected to the city's greenway system, and features a Tennessee-shaped scoreboard and a signature water tower that has become one of the more recognizable landmarks on the Knoxville skyline.
The Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play in the Southern League. If you are trying to see future Cubs stars before they hit Wrigley, this is where you go.
Opening Day: April 3 vs. Birmingham Barons
The season opens at home on Friday, April 3 against the Birmingham Barons, presented by the United States Air Force. That kicks off 69 home games running through September.
Theme Nights and Promotions
The Smokies have loaded up the 2026 schedule with 26 theme nights and 19 fireworks dates. Some highlights:
- Knox Vegas Nights - New for 2026, a Thursday celebration of Knoxville's game-night energy. Ten dates starting April 9.
- Free Beer Night - April 7. Yes, really.
- Dancing with the Smokies Night - April 25
- Cinco de Mayo Celebration - May 5
- Wrestling Night - June 6
- Country Night - June 19
- Christmas in July - July 11
Weekly promotions include All-You-Can-Eat Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursdays (presented by Flying Panda), and Feel-Good Fridays. The Summer Fireworks Series runs on select dates presented by Coors Light and Covenant Health.
Getting to the Ballpark
If you are visiting the Smokies from Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, Covenant Health Park is about 35-40 minutes north on I-40 West. The stadium is right in downtown Knoxville, so you can make a full day of it - hit Market Square for lunch, walk the greenway to the park, and catch a game.
For visitors staying in Sevierville, take TN-66 North to I-40 West. The drive is around 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Parking is available around the stadium, and the city encourages biking or walking via the greenway if you are already downtown.
How to Submit Your Audition
If you want to sing:
- Go to the official audition submission page
- Record a video of yourself singing the National Anthem (or another song of your choice)
- Upload or link to your video through the portal
- Wait to hear back from the team
The deadline is Opening Day, April 3. With 69 home games to fill, the odds are actually pretty decent if you can carry a tune.
Even if singing is not your thing, Opening Day is less than a month away. Covenant Health Park is one of the best minor league ballparks in the South, the Cubs' top prospects play here, and a Friday night game with fireworks and a ticket is tough to beat for a family outing near the Smokies.