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A star is born with impromptu national anthem performance

Lincoln Memorial National Anthem
Woman's impromptu national anthem performance goes viral 02:13

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- An assistant principal who was visiting Washington, D.C. has gone viral after an impromptu performance of the national anthem.

It was during a family vacation, and a trip to the must-see Lincoln Memorial, when Star Swain's family decided she should live in the moment and own her talent.

A friend recorded it on his phone.

"I was so nervous and so scared," Swain told CBS News' Omar Villafranca.

Her voice echoed perfectly through the memorial, and in a few days her audience went from a few dozen to millions. The video has gone viral, with 30 million online views and counting.

"I can't take any credit, it's a gift," Swain said. She told CBS News many veterans have reached out to her, saying they were moved by her performance.

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Star Swain CBS News

One of the hundreds who have left a message for her was a mother of a soldier in Afghanistan. "That young lady has brought me to tears, so I just wanted you to tell her, thank you," the woman said in a message.

Swain sings every week at her Tallahassee, Florida church, but she is willing to go back to D.C. to for an encore.

"Pie in the sky, where is your next performance?" Villafranca asked her.

"At the White House, [my] wildest dream." she said.

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