20150318_Article_Lillian

Longtime WWE ring announcer Lilian García took to social media on Monday to state that she’s walking away from WWE to spend time with her father, who is currently battling two different unidentified types of cancer. García was hired by WWE as a ring announcer in 1999 and made her debut on the August 23rd of that year.

Instrumental in many WWE moments, including singing in the WWF for the first time on February 14, 2000, at a house show, and began singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at television tapings later that month. Her first televised performance was on April 2, 2000, where she opened WrestleMania 2000. Following the September 11 attacks, García sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the September 13, 2001, episode of SmackDown!, receiving a standing ovation. In the course of the evening, García commented on the attacks, saying “Well, to say the least, this has been a real roller coaster of a week. And especially because I live in New York City. I have loved ones there, and I’m just very fortunate and very glad that a specific one didn’t get to go to his meeting at 8:30 in the morning that he was supposed to be at the Twin Towers, and so I thank God for that, and I still don’t know about a lot of my friends. I have, we’ll be finding out, I guess, little by little. I pray for everybody there…”

It was reported earlier this year that García missed several shows this year when her father’s health took a turn for the worse but returned to work for the last few months.

This is Lillian García’s post on Instragram:

“I’ve been getting a lot of tweets and messages asking where I have been and if I’m coming back to WWE, so I wanted to let you know what has been going on and why I have been silent. I’ve been through so many emotions lately that they literally have kept me up at night. As most of you know, my father has been battling with two different types of cancer. He hasn’t been doing as well as we hoped, THEREFORE, I will not be traveling weekly with WWE any longer. I will be looking to take on work closer to where I live so that I don’t have to be on the road weekly away from him. He truly needs me, and I need this time with him. I ask that you please continue prayers for my father and my family.

It has been a magical 15-year career at WWE, and WWE Universe, I can’t thank you enough for all your love and support! I felt you every step of the way! I also want to thank the amazing WWE Superstars, whom many of them have become my friends! You are an incredible group of people with SO much talent! It has been such an honor to introduce you to the ring and watch your superior athleticism week after week. Thank you to the crew & production staff on the road and in the offices. I’ve seen you work so hard! You really are the glue that keeps it all together!

Lastly, thank you WWE for this incredible ride that I never wanted to get off. I’ve had experiences beyond my imagination. I thank you for not only allowing me to use my voice as an announcer but also sharing it to sing around the world. What an honor! I will cherish the memories forever.”