Singing at Lions' Turkey Day game 'the apex' of career for Battle Creek's Tauren Wells

Tauren Wells grew up watching the Detroit Lions play every Thanksgiving. He says, the fact that he now gets to be part of the game is one of the highlights of his singing career.

Battle Creek's Wells will be the featured special guest singer performing the national anthem for the annual Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday. The platinum-selling recording artist will help kick off the 83rd annual Turkey Day game with his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

"Oh, yeah.. you know it... every Thanksgiving, we were watching the Lions. There were many Halloweens, too, that I would be dressed up like (former Lions running back) Barry Sanders. Doing this is maybe the apex of my career for me. I might just retire after this one," Wells said with a chuckle.

In what is the only national televised appearance for Detroit in 2022, the Lions will host the Buffalo Bills for the 12:30 p.m. contest on Thanksgiving.

Wells is a 2004 graduate of Battle Creek Central and recalls how the annual Lions Thanksgiving Day game was a time to get together with family. A tradition he continues today with his own sons.

"Growing up in Battle Creek, we would always spend Thanksgiving with part of my family in Union City. It seemed like, back then, the Lions were always playing the Packers every Thanksgiving, so with our entire family of Lions fans, we would see them lose to the Packers a lot," Wells said. "Then, when I moved to Texas, I would still watch the game on Thanksgiving, but I was often the lone guy rooting for the Lions.

"I will have some of my family there with me for the game this year. It will be special to be at Ford Field to experience it. I will have three of my four boys with me, too. They have grown up being indoctrinated as Lions fans, so they are excited, also."

To date, Wells has received 10 Grammy Award nominations, has six No. 1 songs on the Contemporary Christian charts, won six GMA Dove Awards and a Billboard Music Award nomination.

Wells produced two Grammy-nominated albums with his band Royal Tailor in 2012 and 2015, before branching off to become a solo artist. In 2017, he debuted as a solo artist with his pop hit 'Love Is Action' which held the No. 1 spot on Contemporary Hit Radio charts for eight weeks.

As a crossover artist as well, Wells has toured with the likes of Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey.

Over the summer, Wells released his latest album called 'Joy in the Morning'. He will be supporting that album with a new 28-city tour in the spring with dates in Detroit and Grand Rapids. Last year at this time, he also debuted his version of the NSYNC song "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays."

"I've sung the national anthem at events before. I did an ALCS playoff game at the Houston Astros last year," Wells said. "But this is a little more sacred, being the Thanksgiving Day Classic and being so close to my hometown.

"Last year, I was part of the Macy's Day Parade and sang 'Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays'. And this year I get to sing at the Lions game. It's been a great back-to-back Thanksgivings for me."

Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @billbroderick.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek's Tauren Wells will perform at Lions' Thanksgiving Day game