Kristin Chenoweth performed a thunderous version of the national anthem at the NBA Finals.
The Emmy and Tony Award winner sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the Indiana Pacers at the Paycom Center in the decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals on June 22.
Chenoweth, an Oklahoma native, kept the song pretty standard for the first half of the performance before she started hitting notes that reminded everyone of what she is capable of doing.
“And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” she belted out, as the crowd roared.
Broadway’s “Wicked” star really hit her stride, though, by saving the best for last. She ended the song with the famous lines “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave,” hitting and holding seemingly impossible to reach high notes on “free” for several seconds and “brave,” while the crowd cheered her on.
Fans watching the video on YouTube were blown away.
“To perform this acapella (without music) at one of the most watched events in the world is insanely brave. She nailed it!” gushed one person.
“Kristen knocked it out of the ballpark,” someone else wrote.
“Omg her range is insane,” another person raved.
“This is the national anthem performance we needed. Strong. In control. Superb musicianship. Tight performance. Fun ending. 10/10. Thank you Kristin,” commented someone else.
Chenoweth, who is a Thunder fan, had promised to provide her own spin on the anthem.
“I do love this song, and I take it very seriously,” she said in an Instagram video shared by her and the NBA. “I definitely do my own version.”
While mesmerizing, Chenoweth’s performance didn’t totally steal the Thunder’s thunder: The team knocked off the Pacers, 103-91, to win the NBA title. It marks the second time the franchise has won the championship. The team, which moved to Oklahoma City in 2008, won it in 1979 when it was the Seattle SuperSonics.
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