Babyface Performs the National Anthem at 2024 NBA All-Star Game
Guitar in hand, Babyface crooned the national anthem at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday (Feb. 18).
“Anthem ready,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of his performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at this year’s game.
Babyface’s folksy rendition of the standard had his name trending on social media Sunday night.
“That was the most tender lovin’ national anthem ever,” one viewer tweeted.
“I didn’t have ‘Babyface on the acoustic guitar’ as a candidate for best anthem I’ve ever heard … but something about that was awfully powerful. Maybe because he’s from Indianapolis, but I don’t know. That one hit hard,” another noted.
“The best thing the the NBA did this weekend was get Babyface to come sing in his hometown,” agreed another viewer.
Others couldn’t help but comment on a certain meme-ready reaction to Babyface’s vocals.
“Babyface done turned the National anthem into an Adult Alternative Top 40 hit!” one viewer exclaimed on X.
In August, the legendary singer, songwriter and producer scored his first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 specifically as a producer in 23 years, thanks to his work on SZA’s “Snooze.” He’d last appeared in the top 10 as a producer in December 2000, with P!nk’s “Most Girls.” Of Babyface’s top 10 Hot 100 hits in any role (producer, writer or recording artist), seven have hit No. 1. They’ve combined to spend 51 weeks at the summit of the chart.
Watch Babyface sing the National Anthem in Indianapolis at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game below.
Ashley Iasimone
Billboard
