Kristin Chenoweth Defends Controversial National Anthem Performance During NBA Finals

Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth took center court on Sunday, June 22, for Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.

Before the game, the "Wicked" singer gave the crowd and viewers worldwide a powerful rendition of the National Anthem, showcasing her impressive vocal ability and range.

However, the actress' signature Broadway-style performance sparked mixed reactions online, though in a new interview, she didn't seem fazed by the noise.

Speaking with The Oklahoman, Chenoweth said that while she's often asked to sing the National Anthem by different sports leagues, this invitation came personally from the Thunder organization.

"I took it very seriously," she said about the performance. "And I always take singing that song very seriously, because of the beautiful words, the lyrics of the song. So, I just wanted to make Oklahoma proud."

Chenoweth's version of the song featured her belting her signature high notes, which some weren't fond of. According to the Oklahoma native, however, her stylistic choices were intentional.

"I guess I did want to set the tone (and) just get everybody ready to really cheer their brains out to, hopefully, win," she said.

Another reason this moment was special to Chenoweth is that she didn't believe she'd actually have a chance to sing the song, considering she believed OKC would win the series in Game 6.

"This is the only game I could do, and actually, because of my schedule, I didn't think I would be doing it," the powerhouse singer said. "I thought we would win before (Game 7). But you know what? It just made it all the more exciting, and so I found myself booking my flight, going, 'All right, Thunder, I'm coming.'"

Chenoweth explained that planning the appearance for Game 7 was a bit chaotic, as she's currently splitting her time between New York and Nashville to prepare for her new Broadway show, "Queen of Versailles."

"I didn't even get to see my family," Chenoweth added. "I just came in, sang, and I'm headed out."

"I'm always gonna try to be here if they ask me, because it's my team," she noted. "I bleed blue, yellow, and orange; what can I tell you?"

Once the NBA shared the video of Chenoweth's performance online, users chimed in to share their bold thoughts about her twist on the song.

"Well, it wasn't very good, but at least it's in English," a user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"The greatest rendition of all time was done by Whitney Houston and it certainly wasn't 'traditional,'" another shared.

A third user stated plainly, "That sh-t was horrible."

"Soo tired of these 'icons, stars' making up new renditions of the National Anthem!" another user posted. "Sing it as written and meant to be sung."

Other users, meanwhile, were quick to defend the "Defying Gravity" singer, with one writing, "If you're dragging [Chenoweth's] rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, you're just announcing to the world that you've never set foot in a theater."

"D-amn!" someone else shared. "That was one of the stronger National Anthems I've heard in a while!!"

"Great job by Kristin Chenoweth," they added.

Someone else said, "Kristin Chenoweth sang the National Anthem and let me tell you it was perfect."

While fans debated Chenoweth's performance, the Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a championship performance of their own on the hardwood.

After a tense seven-game series, OKC clinched the championship on Sunday night, securing a 103-91 victory.

Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams both had an impressive night, tallying 18 and 20 points, respectively.

The Thunder's franchise player, however, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, capped off his night with 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Gilgeous-Alexander credited his performance on the court to "a lot of hard work [and] hours in the gym."

“This isn't just a win for me. This is a win for my family. This is a win for my friends. This is a win for everybody that was in my corner growing up. This is a win for the fans, the best fans in the world.”