WY MAC Sings National Anthem at Monte Carlo
Posing on the red carpet like a seasoned pro, 15-year-old Wynona Leigh McCullough (known as the recording artist Wy Mac) had the flash bulbs popping at the weekend’s Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame gala held at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas.
This prestigious event was the first-ever Induction Ceremony for boxing’s biggest superstars including Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, and so many other champs sharing space in this star-studded affair. For most teens, the glitzy bash would be extremely intimidating. But for Wynona, she handled herself with poise and confidence.
She is, after all, the child of a champion. The teenager is the daughter of Wayne “Pocket Rocket” McCullough, a WBC and NABF Bantamweight Champ. The Belfast boxer also represented Ireland, winning a Silver Medal in the 1992 Olympics. Wy Mac’s parents, Wayne and Cheryl, were both extremely proud of the burgeoning young star.
I chatted with the championship family before the banquet began. Wynona had the honor of singing the National Anthem in front of hundreds of boxing’s most recognizable faces, singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the first time ever in public. The singer/actress/dancer was excited to be able to sing in front of this VIP crowd. It’s only natural for any performer to have “butterflies” before an important performance but the petite young lady remained poised.
“I loved getting to sing the National Anthem for the very first time in public. I sing it at home all the time but I was honored to be invited to sing at the NVBHOF,” Wynona tells me. “And to sing in front of people I’ve grown up around–so many boxing legends–was amazing!”
And as she learned, just like in boxing, you have to keep on your toes. Wynona’s mom, Cheryl, revealed a slight issue that no one probably noticed. As the crowd cheered enthusiastically at the end of Wy Mac’s performance, there was happiness and relief from the teen and her family.
“I, like everyone else in the room, loved hearing Wynona sing the National Anthem,” Cheryl told me. “The staff of the NVBHOF running the event couldn’t have been more helpful. They brought her in early for sound check but then the audio people told her they needed to bring in a stage speaker so she’d be able to hear the music properly on stage. However, since she was unable to do a sound check with the speaker she was unaware of how loud the music would be when she got on stage.”
The petite Wynona, wearing a crimson satin dress and gold glitter tennis shoes, did not let on that anything was wrong while she went live on stage. Already a show biz trouper, the pretty teen carried on like a true champ, just like her father did in his fights.
Wayne is known for his heart, determination and class. The “Pocket Rocket” had 34 fights and 18 KOs during his career and never gave up or gave in. The championship genes were clearly passed on to his daughter. While the audio situation wasn’t 100% perfect, Wy Mac soldiered on and delivered a knockout performance of her own. It couldn’t have been easy to not hear herself singing but she never caved.
“She started singing, she couldn’t hear herself and it threw her off,” her mother Cheryl reveals. “But in my opinion, she handled it like a pro–and no one else in the room knew there was anything wrong. It would be like a fighter going into a world championship fight and having never tested his fight gloves! I feel like she did an amazing job given the circumstances.”
Her proud mum also adds: “I’m very thankful to the NVBHOF for giving her the opportunity on such a huge stage and I hope they’ll invite her back again next year!”
And just like any other singer, Wy Mac got to experience on-stage issues that even the most famous superstars have gone through. Beyonce was recently shown on stage with a fan pulling her hair, trapping her in mid-performance. Lady Gaga has been seen falling off the stage while Mariah Carey suffered a recent wardrobe malfunction. None of these things happened to Wynona, but as a budding star, she now knows what to expect and has proven she can handle anything–even the “punches” you don’t see coming.
Again, it’s the experience of her boxing father that has trained her well. While he is beloved around the world, especially in his native Northern Ireland, his wee little girl still thinks of him as “just dad.” “I don’t look at my dad as being anything but my dad,” the brunette says, “but it’s awesome to see people approach him when we attend events because they are all so inspired by him and a little star struck!”
The McCullough clan currently reside in Las Vegas and Wayne is a Board of Director with the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. The former world titlist is also a boxing trainer, author and ringside commentator. I have known the family for years and it’s always a pleasure to catch up with them and to hear the latest developments in their careers.
Wynona is a triple-threat entertainer who has just received an offer for a recording contract. While she has already performed around the world, she also remains a normal teen in learning to drive, testing out the latest fashions, hanging out at her local Starbucks, and dancing in hip hop videos.
“I recently signed a record deal,” she confirms, “and will be traveling to the East Coast to work with my new producer within the next month or so.”
For all the attendees at Saturday’s dinner and Induction Ceremony, they got a chance to see Wynona up close in the spotlight.
One of the hardest working artists I know, it won’t be the last time you see this teenager shine.
The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame founder agrees. CEO and President Rich Marotta comments, “We were very proud to have Wynona McCullough, the daughter of former
WBC Bantamweight Champion Wayne McCullough open the show with the National Anthem.”
And just like Beyonce, Mariah, Rihanna and other female singers tearing up the record charts, the songstress hopes to join them someday on the world’s stage. Except there’s one thing that may set her apart. Only 15, the girl has stayed humble while projecting confidence…No “Diva” behavior from Wy Mac!
“Known as WyMac, she’s a talented teenager with a singing career on the horizon,” Marotta adds, “and she doesn’t have that ‘Diva’ attitude!”
Keep your eye on Wynona Leigh McCullough, daughter of a champ.
Photos by Michele Chong