Kristin Chenoweth was slammed by fans for her “horrible” performance of the national anthem during the 2025 NBA Finals

On Sunday, the “Wicked” star took center court at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City before Game 7 of the matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

As she was singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Chenoweth, 56, held a long, high note at one point, prompting an outburst of applause and cheers from the sold-out crowd.

Though the performance seemed to win over fans in the arena, viewers who watched the live broadcast at home seemed to be underwhelmed by the Tony Award-winning singer’s vocals.

Kristin Chenoweth was slammed by fans for her “horrible” performance of the National Anthem during Game 7 of the NBA Finals over the weekend. AP

On Sunday, the “Wicked” star took center court at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City before Game 7 of the matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. AP

Toward the end of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” Chenoweth held a long, high note, prompting an outburst of applause and cheers from the sold-out crowd. AP
“That s–t was horrible,” one user argued on X.

“Completely ruined the anthem with whatever that high note was at the end,” added another.

“What the hell was that national anthem? #NBAFinals,” asked a third person.

“The Kristen Chenoweth rendition of the National Anthem was a difficult listen,” claimed a fourth user.

However, several other fans defended Chenoweth’s rendition of the national anthem.

“Perfect in every way. Ranks in the top five best ever renditions of The Beautiful Star Spangled Banner. Brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Kristin Chenoweth,” gushed one user on X.

Though the performance seemed to win over fans in the arena, viewers who watched the live broadcast at home seemed to be underwhelmed by the Tony Award-winning singer’s vocals. AP

“That s–t was horrible,” said one user on X. NBAE via Getty Images

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“10/10!!! Amazing job and OKC got a powerhouse for the biggest game of their season,” added another.

“She is a fantastic singer. I wish they would ask her to do this often,” stated a third supporter.

Meanwhile, another fan called the “Four Christmases” star’s performance “perfect” and argued that it’s “how it should always be sung.”

Page Six has reached out to Chenoweth’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.

The “Boy Next Door” actress, who is a native of Oklahoma, gushed about being a huge Thunder fan during soundcheck. kchenoweth/Instagram

“I never miss a game unless I’m on stage,” she told Tulsa World Sunday ahead of the game. GC Images

The “Boy Next Door” actress, who is a native of Oklahoma, gushed about being a huge Thunder fan during soundcheck.

“I never miss a game unless I’m on stage,” she told Tulsa World ahead of the game.

“I was a cheerleader in high school in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and I loved football, but my favorite was basketball. I like how much of a team player you’ve got to be. … And this is my team.”