Kristin Chenoweth Criticized and Praised After Bold National Anthem Performance at NBA Finals 2025

When Broadway icon Kristin Chenoweth took the court to sing the U.S. National Anthem before Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, expectations were high. Known for her award-winning performances in Wicked and Glee, Chenoweth brought a level of vocal precision and theatrical flair rarely seen at major sporting events.

What happened next set the internet on fire.

A Performance That Divided the Nation

Standing center court before a packed arena in Oklahoma City, Chenoweth delivered a powerful operatic rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Her voice soared with classical technique, building to a climactic high note—reportedly a C#6—that left many in the stadium applauding… but left others at home scratching their heads.

Some viewers described the ending as “angelic.” Others called it “unrecognizable.”

Watch the Full Performance Here

Mixed Reactions from Fans and Media

The internet erupted shortly after the broadcast. On X (formerly Twitter), users were sharply divided:

• “That s‑‑‑ was horrible. Why did she ruin it like that?”

• “One of the worst national anthems ever. Broadway is not the NBA.”

• “What was that final note?!?”

On the other hand, Chenoweth’s fans and fellow musicians quickly came to her defense:

• “She’s a Broadway LEGEND. That note was stunning.”

• “Bold, emotional, artistic. I loved every second.”

• “She didn’t play it safe, and I respect that.”

Even music critics weighed in. One article from The Cut noted that Chenoweth’s rendition “was technically flawless and emotionally expressive—but may have been too theatrical for a sports crowd.”

 

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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Mat Wulff (@matwulff)

Kristin Chenoweth Responds

After the online backlash, Chenoweth posted a subtle message on Instagram, quoting:

“If you want to be liked by everyone, don’t be yourself.”

The caption read:

“Art is meant to be felt, not always understood.”

This quiet but firm response was widely interpreted as Chenoweth standing by her artistic choice.

 

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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Oklahoma City Thunder (@okcthunder)

A Risky Rendition — But Was It Brave or Too Much?

Performing the National Anthem on a national stage is always a high-risk, high-reward moment. It’s a song steeped in tradition, but also open to interpretation.

In this case, Kristin Chenoweth brought her classical training and Broadway soul to a setting dominated by sports fans and televised millions of times over. Whether it worked or not depends on who you ask — but one thing is certain: people are still talking about it.