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Brandy’s R&B National Anthem at NBA All‑Star Game Divides Viewers

Online reaction was sharply split over the harmony‑heavy reinterpretation.

Overview

  • Brandy performed the U.S. national anthem with June’s Diary before tipoff, delivering an a cappella, harmony‑driven arrangement that departed from the traditional melody.
  • Responses on social platforms ranged from strong praise for creativity to sharp criticism, including unfavorable comparisons to Fergie’s 2018 All‑Star rendition.
  • Coverage situated the moment within All‑Star anthem lore, referencing Marvin Gaye’s 1983 reworking and Whitney Houston’s widely acclaimed performance.
  • The 75th NBA All‑Star Game was held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood under a new USA‑vs‑World three‑team format hosted by the Clippers and aired on NBC with streaming on Peacock.
  • Pregame programming also featured Sarah McLachlan singing O Canada and John Tesh leading Roundball Rock, and no formal statements from Brandy or the NBA were reported.