For any artist, being hired to sing the national anthem at a major event is an honor. Many will try anything, whether it's tinkering with the arrangements or striving to achieve the glorious notes that only Five-octave powerhouses like Whitney Houston could reach — to put his own memorable stamp on the national anthem.
But not everyone (in fact, almost no one) reaches a level of true greatness. After all, it is a pretty difficult tune to sing, with its gymnastic melody that forces vocalists to swing dangerously between their high and low registers, as well as a final line that the audience expects to be belted out. Add to that the excess of verbiage (red glow from rockets? Bombs going off? Seriously, couldn’t we have toned down the alliteration a bit?) and the fact that if we screw it up we risk offending an entire nation, and you have a song that is, whether by accident or design, the ultimate all-or-nothing test for performers everywhere.
However, as edgy as it may be, you'd think singers would have learned by now to stop booking public concerts for the National Anthem unless they were absolutely sure they had what it took to do the song justice. Alas, artists across genres, genders, and generations (okay, maybe alliteration is kind of fun) have stood up in front of the world time and time again and trashed our country's theme song, including some talented ones we'd never expect.
With that in mind, cover your heart and plug your ears as you… Billboard brings you the 11 worst renditions of the national anthem in history.
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Jesse McCartney 2009
Jesse McCartney forgot a few words to the National Anthem during his performance at the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup race, but there are some upsides. First, he's in good company: many respected vocalists have fallen victim to the same mistake, some of whom are also mentioned on this very list. Second, he forgot a line and it completely distracted everyone from how off-key and shaky it was!
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Keri Hilson 2010
Keri Hilson has the vocal chops to make “The Star-Spangled Banner” soar, but unfortunately, the R&B star's performance at a 2010 NBA game between the Lakers and Hawks had exactly the opposite effect. Why? Hilson committed the ultimate sin: forgetting the lyrics. Let the complaining begin!
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Christina Aguilera 2011
No one is saying Christina Aguilera, with her powerful, glorious notes, couldn't rock “The Star-Spangled Banner.” But did she do it at the 2011 Super Bowl? No. Aguilera changed the words on the fourth line of the song, merging the lyrics with the second line of the song. And that final note? Phew!
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R. Kelly 2005
R. Kelly, known for his ability to turn ordinary performances into moments that defy logic, must have been trying to imitate the great Marvin Gaye when he decided to use a soulful arrangement of the national anthem for a boxing match. The results were talked about, but for all the wrong reasons, from the unnecessary use of handclaps to the even more unnecessary use of Chicago dancers.
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Steven Tyler 2001 and 2012
The Aerosmith frontman's unique voice is perfect for howling choruses like “Love in an elevatuhhh,” “What did her daddy doooo” or “Dream till you're dreams come truuue.” “O'er the land of the freeeee,” however, not so much. And he never stops singing it, recently blundering it at the 2012 AFC Championship.
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Aaron Neville, Aretha Franklin and Dr. John 2006
It had all the ingredients for a great rendition of the national anthem. Super Bowl XL was the first since Hurricane Katrina, and two New Orleans heroes, Aaron Neville and Dr. John, were there to proudly represent their hometown, along with Detroit soul queen Aretha Franklin. And a gospel choir, too! But sadly, these elements added up to create something that just didn't leave us with a good feeling. Perplexed, perhaps, and surely uncomfortable. But definitely not good.
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Scott Stapp 2005
Creed's Grammy Award-winning voice has made mistakes when singing the national anthem on several occasions, but a 2005 performance at the NASCAR Ford 400 best demonstrates why this man should never sing this song. Choppy notes and mournful growls do not make a good anthem.
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Michael Bolton 2003
Before Sarah Palin was reading notes from her hand, there was Michael Bolton. At a Red Sox-Yankees baseball game in 2003, the singer drew the ire of fans when he dared to look at the handwriting scrawled on his palm. Between that and the eerie echo that followed his every line, Bolton's performance was an epic fail.
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Ingrid Andress 2024
At least she didn't forget the lyrics? Ingrid Andress was able to belt out the entire anthem without stopping or flubbing any lyrics, but that's about the best that can be said for her performance at the 2024 Home Run Derby in Texas. The Grammy-winning country star immediately went viral after walking away from the microphone for her off-key performance and questionable riffs, leading many on social media to proclaim her rendition the “worst national anthem of all time.”
The next day, Andress posted a candid statement on social media about what happened. “I’m not going to talk nonsense to you, I was drunk last night,” she wrote. “Today I’m checking into a facility to get the help I need.”
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Fergie 2018
The 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend called for Fergie’s presence, and Fergie is exactly what they got. In what many are (jokingly) calling an anthem protest performance, the former Black Eyed Peas singer delivered one of the most “creative” renditions of the anthem. (One astute Twitter user described her, in a since-deleted tweet, as “Amy Winehouse doing a Britney Spears impression.”) The lasting legacy of the performance was clear before it was over, as Chance the Rapper, Jimmy Kimmel, and just about everyone courtside laughed quietly or openly as it happened.
Since it's 2018, the internet immediately blew up the situation, prompting a response from Fergie, who explained, “I'm a risk taker artistically, but clearly this performance didn't strike the intended tone.” She added, “I love this country and I honestly did the best I could.”
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Roseanne Barr 1990
Even the most hard-nosed Americans were irritated by Roseanne Barr's performance of the national anthem at a San Diego Padres game in 1990. She wanted to be obnoxious in a number of ways (screaming the lyrics totally off-key, grabbing her crotch, and spitting on the pitcher's mound), and it worked. The best part about this particular video, though, is that it serves to remind us that Madonna was not only humbled by Barr's performance, but also spoke with a completely different accent two decades ago.
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Kat DeLuna 2008
The Dominican singer, once a pop newcomer with a bright future, never quite recovered from this rendition of the national anthem at a Dallas Cowboys game in 2008. By any measure, it's a spectacular failure. She tries too hard to hit the notes that only a select circle of divas can achieve, then takes us on a rollercoaster of painfully bumpy vocal rhythms. She half-forgets the lyrics. She completely botches the last note. And she does it all with the arrogance of someone who thinks she's absolutely good. murder When a chorus of boos is heard at the end, it is too little, too late.
More 4th of July Features:
20 fantastic songs from “America”
Born in the United States Gallery: 50 stars, 50 states
Rocking the flag: musicians wearing the stars and stripes flag
thanks to our partners at www.billboard.com
