Vanessa Carlton took a moment to honor professional hockey player John Carlson of the Washington Capitals over the weekend, celebrating his achievement of playing 1,000 league games.
The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter made an appearance on the National Hockey League team’s social media page on Saturday morning. In a video, she performed her 2002 hit song “A Thousand Miles” with modified lyrics, paying tribute to Carlson, affectionately known as “Carly” among fans.
In the video, Carlton, seated at the piano, played the familiar notes of her popular ballad while singing about Carlson’s 2018 Stanley Cup victory and his formidable skills on the ice.
At the conclusion of her performance, Carlton extended her congratulations to Carlson for reaching the milestone of 1,000 games and enthusiastically cheered “Go Caps!” showcasing her admiration as a hockey fan.
The Washington Capitals, acknowledging the resemblance in the names of the two personalities, playfully commented on their social media, “Did you think a Carlson/Carlton crossover would pass us by?”
Vanessa Carlton’s song “A Thousand Miles” gained immense popularity upon its release in 2002, topping the charts and earning multiple Grammy nominations, including record and song of the year.
For its 20th anniversary in 2022, Rolling Stone described “A Thousand Miles” as having “arguably the most easily recognizable first three seconds of a song in the last two decades, and perhaps the most instantly identifiable piano riff ever.”
John Carlson, a defenseman and alternate captain for the Capitals, reached his 1,000th NHL game on Saturday night, joining his teammates against the Boston Bruins in this significant milestone.