- 7/4/2025
From ear-splitting high notes to forgotten lyrics, these renditions of "The Star-Spangled Banner" hit all the wrong notes! Join us as we count down the most cringe-worthy performances of America's national anthem. Our list includes seasoned professionals and amateur singers who learned the hard way that this patriotic tune can humble even the most talented vocalists.
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00:00Does that star-spangled banner yet wave?
00:10Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most cringeworthy renditions of the American National Anthem.
00:25Number 30, Dierks Bentley.
00:27Sometimes, a good show relies on more than just simply getting the notes correct.
00:32Dierks Bentley's rendition of the anthem in 2017 serves as the ultimate proof of that.
00:46Just before the fourth game of the Stanley Cup Finals, he took to the ice to perform an understated a cappella cover of the iconic song.
00:53While he didn't mess up any notes and earned cheers from the attending crowd, it still wasn't enough to impress the online masses.
01:00Several people took to the web to critique his performance, going so far as to say his version lacked any conviction and that it was on par with a cover you'd hear at your local bar.
01:09Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave?
01:19It just goes to show that impressing everybody is often impossible.
01:22Number 29, Jamie Foxx.
01:25Before the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao commenced in 2015,
01:29Jamie Foxx first took to the ring to sing his gospel-inspired version of the Star-Spangled Banner.
01:34From the beginning, it was clear something was wrong.
01:37What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
01:47Both Foxx and the organist accompanying him seemed to be struggling to find the correct tempo and pitch.
01:52The singer attempted to riff to cover up some of the inconsistencies, which only clashed with the organ even further.
01:58It was later revealed that Foxx's earpiece had fallen out moments beforehand, forcing him to rely on the speakers at the arena.
02:05And the rocket's regular, the bombs bursting in your name.
02:17Had he sung it a cappella, it would have most likely gone off without a hitch, proving how disastrous a seemingly simple technical difficulty can be.
02:25Number 28, The Fray.
02:27While there have been several unique renditions of the national anthem, some are undoubtedly more successful than others.
02:34That could not be said for The Fray, who attempted an acoustic version complete with a tambourine.
02:39While ambitious, it quickly proved to be a bad idea.
02:54The guitars did not mesh well with Isaac Slade's voice at all, resulting in an uncomfortable dissonance that was clear to the players and crowd alike.
03:01It was a rough way to start the 2012 NCAA Men's Division 1 Tournament, and immediately led to immense criticism online, which the band ended up taking in stride.
03:11Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
03:18The unfortunate performance showed how straying from the original arrangement can result in pure cringe.
03:24Number 27, The Eli Young Band.
03:27If there are any lyrics you do not want to forget as a vocalist, it's those set to your country's national anthem.
03:33You see by the dawn's early life.
03:41However, if you do forget, how it's played off could be the defining factor in the crowd's reaction.
03:46Mike Eli of the Eli Young Band learned this lesson the hard way in 2010.
03:51Just before the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Denver Broncos, he began an a cappella version of the track,
03:56forgetting the words by the third line.
03:58The crowd immediately began to boo, causing him to start over, and forget the line a second time.
04:04And the rocket's wringling, the bomb flashed in here.
04:13Even though he powered through to the end, the damage was already done, leading to him issuing an apology.
04:19Number 26, Natalie Gilbert.
04:21Even the most unfortunate of situations can reveal the best in others.
04:25In 2003, 13-year-old Natalie Gilbert won a contest and was subsequently tasked with performing the anthem before an NBA playoff game.
04:34What so proudly we hailed at the stars' eyes.
04:41It was clear she was nervous, and those feelings quickly got the better of her when she forgot the words early on.
04:47Maurice Cheeks, the coach for the Portland Trailblazers, quickly jumped in, singing with her in an attempt to help with the lyrics.
04:53Even with the added assistance, Gilbert's nerves persisted, resulting in the piece becoming off-pitch and rushed in certain parts.
05:12Luckily, the crowd empathized with her, and gave both her and Cheeks a standing ovation for their efforts.
05:18Number 25, Rachel Platten.
05:21This was definitely not her fight song.
05:23Forgetting the words has happened before, but many usually manage to make it past the first line.
05:28Before a soccer game in 2018, Rachel Platten attempted to open the match, only to immediately forget the words.
05:46She then restarted, only to flub them again, prompting the crowd to sing the correct lyrics to her.
05:51Though the rest of her performance sounded fine, it was clear she was still nervous, as she nearly forgot the words a third time.
05:57Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave...
06:10Afterwards, Platten went on to explain her mindset during the incident, saying that her mind had gone blank at the worst moment, and expressing how embarrassed she had felt.
06:19Number 24, Anita Baker.
06:21Even legends can have their off days, and not all voices are suited for the anthem.
06:25These were both the unfortunate case for Anita Baker, who was given the task of singing it just before the 2010 NBA Finals.
06:33Her vocals were just off-key enough to be noticed by both the crowd and those watching at home, leading to plenty of online backlash.
06:52The higher notes in particular proved to be a challenge for her, resulting in a rare miss for the seasoned artist.
06:58It being sung a cappella only highlighted each fumbled note.
07:01It goes to show that not even the most experienced of singers are immune to a rough night.
07:17Number 23, Beyonce.
07:19It's one thing to falter at a sporting event, but when it comes to the inauguration of a United States president, you want to make sure you're on your A-game.
07:26Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light...
07:39While Beyonce certainly has the pipes to sing the anthem, she still didn't feel too sure of herself.
07:45This resulted in her pre-recording the track ahead of time, and singing along with it during the momentous occasion.
07:50The news was first broken by a member of the Marine Corps band, and immediately led to controversy across the nation.
08:10Some felt that her approach was smart, and prevented any mishaps during the event, whereas others were adamant she should have taken the chance regardless of how it went.
08:18Number 22, R. Kelly.
08:20Trying to turn the Star-Spangled Banner into an R&B chart topper was certainly a choice, but not a good one.
08:26Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light...
08:35R. Kelly's over-embellished take fell flat, but things were only exacerbated by his attempts to get the crowd to clap along with him.
08:42He attempted to infuse several cultural markers into his rendition, including bringing step-dancers into the ring with him, but it just didn't work, resulting in a mixed reaction across the country.
08:52It came across as him attempting to turn the moment into his own personal concert, rather than a commemoration of the occasion and the country as a whole.
09:09Number 21, Loomis.
09:10One of the most important things a performer can do when messing up is to just not acknowledge it.
09:15The perilous fight for the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
09:29Loomis unfortunately forgot this cardinal rule during her take on the song just before the third-party presidential debate in 2024.
09:37After messing up a couple of the track's higher notes, she immediately stopped singing and swore before asking to start over.
09:43After being reminded she was performing live, she tried to soldier on, only to stop once more and tell the crowd that her nerves had gotten the better of her.
09:51For the land of the free...
09:59Had she carried on without pointing it out, there is a chance the mistake could have gone unnoticed.
10:04But instead, it became one of the most defining moments of her career so far.
10:09Number 20, Shaka Khan.
10:10What is it about the NBA All-Star Game and ghastly anthem renditions?
10:15For 2020, Fergie passed the torch to Shaka Khan.
10:28The R&B singer is known for her powerful vocals, but no one was ready for this.
10:33Singing at a snail's pace, Shaka Khan launches into runs that would make even triathletes exhausted.
10:39Hitting notes that audiences previously did not know existed, her performance was swiftly dunked on.
10:45Drawing comparisons to both Fergie and Uncle Bobby from Proud Family.
10:53Despite Magic Johnson's praise, the internet was quick to lump this performance in with the worst anthems in history.
11:01Number 19, Josh Groban and Flea.
11:04Sometimes, polar opposites come together to make something new and incredible.
11:08Other times, you get whatever this was.
11:11For the 2010 BCS National Championship Game,
11:14Josh Groban and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers got together to perform the national anthem.
11:18It was a strange pairing, to say the least, with Josh staying committed to his operatic style of singing and Flea accompanying him on bass.
11:34Their version was slow and seemed stilted, despite a drummer kicking in to liven it up.
11:39And while it wasn't the worst rendition we've ever heard, it definitely left us with more questions than answers.
11:45Namely, why?
11:46There, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof.
11:58Number 18, Victoria Zarlenga.
12:00Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light.
12:11Technical difficulties can be an anthem singer's worst nightmare.
12:15A 2012 soccer match between the USA and Scotland was the setting for this pitchy performance,
12:19which had fans gasping and athletes staring at each other in amazement.
12:23Although Victoria Zarlenga rocked the diva finger and looked like the bell of the ball,
12:28her voice strained just enough to resemble a dying animal.
12:31For her credit, the singer managed to keep the universe in order by nailing the lyrics,
12:35and blamed the earplug-inspiring vocal on poor auditory perception.
12:40And the home of that grave...
12:46Number 17, Aaron Lewis.
12:49Your eyes and ears will be forever stained by this rendition of America's Anthem.
12:54Aaron Lewis, the lead singer of the aforementioned Alterna Metal band, and now a country music crooner,
13:07went lyrically rogue at Game 5 of the 2014 World Series.
13:11You'd think that such a self-consciously uber-patriot would, like,
13:14have remembered the words to the most iconic song in the country's repertoire.
13:17In the home of the brave...
13:26But no, he done goofed, replacing At The Twilight's Last Gleaming with a wrongly placed,
13:32We're So Gallantly Streaming.
13:33Maybe he should have had the lyrics tattooed on his neck.
13:36Number 16, Michael Bolton.
13:39Come back, Christmas night.
13:43The Boston Red Sox were a year away from World Series glory in 2003,
13:48and their intense rivalry with the New York Yankees caused fans to tremble with anticipation.
13:53One glorious American hero named Michael Bolton temporarily calmed the storm
13:57and brought the country together with this confused rendition of the National Anthem during the ALCS that year.
14:03Like so many singers unable to remember America's most famous song,
14:07Bolton took to the hand, closed his eyes, and belted away in a star-spangled slumber.
14:13There must be something truly intoxicating to a performer
14:23about just going for it when they sing the Star-Spangled Banner.
14:28Perhaps it's some mixture of the crowd around them,
14:37with the swell of patriotism that makes singers push their limits,
14:40to sometimes disastrous results.
14:43That has to explain actor Clint Bowers,
14:45who had one of the most cringe-inducing final notes in his performance of the anthem at an NBA game.
14:50Poor dude really thought he was going to hit the high note,
14:52but instead his voice cracked and warbled all over the place.
14:56But we guess, kudos to him for really committing.
14:58And the home of the...
15:03Number 14. Christina Aguilera
15:06The Super Bowl stage is home to classic American suspense,
15:10but sometimes the Greek masks of comedy and drama make an appearance.
15:13And now, to honor America, five-time Grammy Award winner, Christina Aguilera.
15:20In 2011, the illustrious Christina Aguilera began a heart-wrenching rendition of the national anthem,
15:27only to remix the vocals by the fourth line.
15:29Whose broad stripes and bright stars
15:36through the perilous fight.
15:44Like a true pro, the Grammy Award-winning singer moved on with bravery,
15:48but the audience experienced a collective déjà vu moment
15:51and wondered if it was all a dream directed by Christopher Nolan.
15:54Number 13. Cataluna
16:08Performing the anthem at a major game
16:10can be a great way for an aspiring pop star to broaden their fan base.
16:17At least, that's the best-case scenario if they kill it.
16:22Unfortunately for Cat DeLuna,
16:25she got her big chance to perform at a Monday Night Football game back in 2008,
16:28and most likely lost fans rather than gained new ones.
16:32She gave a very diva-fied performance of the song,
16:35complete with vocal runs and matching finger-wagging.
16:38DeLuna had the confidence of Aretha Franklin,
16:41but did not exactly have the vocals to back it up.
16:44The crowd was not kind,
16:45and ended up booing her by the song's end.
16:47Of the brave, the brave...
16:57Number 12. Alexis Normand
17:00At the 2013 Memorial Cup,
17:03a jazz singer from Saskatchewan, Canada,
17:05scattered her way to national anthem infamy.
17:07Whose broad stripes and bright stars
17:12Despite a strong opening line,
17:18Alexis Normand's vocal confidence quickly transformed to sheer confusion,
17:22as she attempted to collect herself and move forward with grace.
17:25What happened next was the creation of a new language,
17:28consisting of part mumbling and part singing,
17:30Only to be followed up with a powerful rendition
17:42of the national anthem's final lines.
17:45Number 11. Stephen Tyler
17:46Stephen Tyler may be a rock legend,
17:49but even legends have their off days.
17:51Performing the national anthem at the Indy 500,
17:53in Indianapolis 500.
18:03Stephen started off nicely by doing a little harmonica riff
18:06before he started singing,
18:08but as soon as he opened his mouth,
18:10it went downhill pretty quickly.
18:12It was a bit too rock and roll,
18:14and he sounded more like he was screaming
18:16rather than singing for much of the performance.
18:18Towards the end,
18:19he slid into a particularly egregious note
18:21that sounded like he was fighting off an assailant,
18:23not singing the nation's most important song.
18:26We feel bad for all the ears in the stadium that day.
18:29And the rocket's rocket!
18:35Who bombs bursting in air?
18:40Number 10, Misha Bruegger-Gossman.
18:43Oh, say can you see?
18:50Sometimes you have to wonder who's booking the talent for these performances.
18:53It's not too often that we hear an operatic version of the Star Spangled Banner
18:57or O Canada at a sporting event, and that is for good reason.
19:01At a 2012 Senators vs Penguins game, opera singer Misha Bruegger-Gossman
19:05gave one of the most dramatic renditions of both songs
19:08when she belted them out in her full, over-the-top style.
19:11It was clear that she was a classically trained singer,
19:14but you have to know your audience.
19:16Overly drawn out, she made it feel less like the start of a sporting event
19:30and more like a brand of cruel and unusual punishment.
19:33Number 9, Cuba Gooding Sr.
19:36He's the lead singer of The Main Ingredient
19:38and the father of an Academy Award-winning actor.
19:41So what happened to this experienced performer in 2008?
19:44Test!
19:46Oh, say can you see?
19:53By the dawn's early light...
19:58This awkward theatrical production of How High Can You Go?
20:01featured outstretched arms and squeaky pitching,
20:04along with a butchering of the lyrics.
20:06At one point, Cuba Gooding Sr. attempts to rally the audience
20:09with an innovative pacing technique,
20:11but unfortunately, his dynamic pronunciation flipped the script
20:14on the thespian affair.
20:15Commenters were right to wonder if he had a bust to catch.
20:18Upstart!
20:21Brain!
20:23Number 8, Carolyn Marcel.
20:26Whether it's a lyrical mishap or a vocal disaster,
20:40performers understand that the show must always go on.
20:43Carolyn Marcel forgot the lyrics not once but twice prior to a 2004 exhibition hockey game
20:49between the USA and Canada and apologized before leaving the ice.
20:52The twins!
20:54Sorry, sorry.
20:59However, just a few moments later,
21:01Marcel returned with written lyrics for a shot at redemption,
21:04only to suffer an embarrassing backwards tumble and literal fall from grace.
21:09As the audience pondered what else could possibly go wrong,
21:18Marcel swiftly made her exit and called it a night.
21:21Number 7, Madison Rising.
21:23This band was doomed from the start.
21:25Before Madison Rising even began to play,
21:28the announcer at a 2014 NASCAR race introduced them as America's most patriotic rock band,
21:33a big claim for anyone to make.
21:49What started off as a slow but fairly run-of-the-mill rendition
21:52took on a whole new life when the bass kicked in,
21:55and they attempted to turn the national anthem into a rollicking rock and roll song.
21:58Not that this hasn't been done successfully before,
22:01Jimi Hendrix anyone?
22:02But this particular version was a resounding flop.
22:05Too aggressive and just tonally off,
22:07the performance was proof that sometimes it's just best to stay in your lane.
22:20Number 6, Jesse McCartney.
22:25One of the lowest bars to clear is knowing the words to the song you're performing.
22:38But time and time again,
22:40we've seen performers let that get the best of them.
22:42That is exactly what happened with singer and actor Jesse McCartney,
22:45who completely skipped a line while singing the national anthem at the 2009 NASCAR Pepsi 500.
22:50From the get-go, he seemed nervous and timid, unlike his usual stage presence.
22:55We don't know what was going on with him, but it had to be bad to completely flub it like that.
22:59Number 5, Ezra Harris.
23:09While some of America's most prestigious singers prepare for the bright lights of television,
23:13others simply adhere to the call of duty.
23:15At a 2006 police memorial ceremony in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ezra Harris was asked to perform,
23:31and became a YouTube sensation with his unique rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
23:35As the cameras rolled, the deputy seemed aware of his lyrical predicament,
23:39but continued on with a freestyle melody.
23:41For one shining moment, an amused colleague attempted to sing along,
23:45only to realize that Mr. Harris was playing by his own rules.
23:49A brave and a home of the free.
23:57Number 4, Carl Lewis.
23:59Olympic athletes become national heroes through commitment and excellence,
24:03but their dedication to performance doesn't always translate to the mic.
24:07On one fateful day in 1993, Carl Lewis stunned NBA fans, along with Michael Jordan,
24:13by delivering a confused, spoken-word rendition complete with crowd integration
24:18and a thorough restructuring of the Francis Scott Key classic.
24:21Oh, say, can you see?
24:26And the rock is this way!
24:30Uh-oh.
24:32I'll make up for it now.
24:33While the enthusiasm of Lewis was off the charts,
24:36his general understanding of the national anthem earned him a collective boo.
24:41Number 3, Ingrid Andrus.
24:43Oh, the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
24:53Though it's one of the most recent flubs, it's already become one of the most infamous.
24:58At the MLB Home Run Derby in 2024,
25:01Ingrid Andrus was given the honor of opening it with the anthem.
25:04It was a train wreck from the first note, and only got worse the longer it went on.
25:09Andrus struggled to find several notes and slurred the lyrics, resulting in the crowd audibly groaning.
25:14It was later revealed that she had been blackout drunk, leading to her not hearing the correct tone in her earpiece.
25:20It ended up serving as a wake-up call for the country star, as she went to rehab soon after.
25:25Though she's doing better now, it's clear that her performance won't be forgotten anytime soon.
25:30Number 2, Roseanne Barr.
25:42Truly one of America's greatest mysteries.
25:44This comedian was booked to perform the national anthem at a 1990 Major League Baseball game.
25:49And shocked the world with her brash intonations.
26:04Despite a lyrically sound interpretation, the rushed style and aggressive voice of Roseanne Barr became an early internet sensation.
26:11With each increasingly exaggerated note, Jack Murphy Stadium roared with boos.
26:16And the performance became a perfect example of how not to perform the Star Spangled Banner.
26:21But as a wise man once said, you get what you pay for.
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26:47Number 1, Fergie.
26:51It's not that Fergie is a bad singer or even that she didn't hit most of her notes.
26:54It's more like, what the heck was she thinking?
26:57What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
27:11At the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, for whatever reason, she decided to perform the song with a jazzy arrangement, complete with scatting.
27:19Instead of mixing it up and creating a new classic, the result was a weird sexual rendition of the song that had players and spectators straining to keep from laughing.
27:28Her version was breathy and seductive.
27:30The polar opposite feelings the national anthem should inspire.
27:33She got roasted on social media and apologized that her performance didn't quote, strike the intended tone.
27:40And the home of the brave!
27:59Which performance of the national anthem made you cringe the most?
28:02Let us know in the comments below.
28:04Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry.
28:05Can someone tell me the next line?
28:07Did you enjoy this video?
28:09Check out these other clips from WatchMojo.
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