Taylor Swift, Patti LaBelle to perform National Anthem at World Series
Major League Baseball today announced that Taylor Swift, Patti LaBelle and Tim McGraw will be participating in the festivities at Games 3 and 4 of the World Series.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays are tied 1-1 in the series. Games 3 and 4 move to Citizens Bank Park in Philly.
Country star Taylor Swift will perform the National Anthem prior to Game 3. The game will be at 7 p.m. Saturday on FOX.
A Pennsylvania native, Swift first sang the anthem for a professional sports event at the age of 10 for her hometown team, the Reading Phillies. She made her debut on the Billboard country charts with her debut single “Tim McGraw,” which peaked at No. 6 on the charts in 2006. Following “Tim McGraw” were “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Our Song,” “Picture to Burn” and “Should’ve Said No,” all of which were top hits on the Billboard’s country and pop charts. Her self-titled debut album, “Taylor Swift,” sold more than 3 million copies as she became the first female solo artist in country music to write or co-write every song on a platinum-selling debut CD. On Nov. 11, she will release her sophomore studio album “Fearless.”
Speaking of McGraw, he also will be involved in Saturday’s game. local member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the official charity of Major League Baseball, will deliver the first game ball to the mound at Games 3 and 4. At Game 3, the Boys & Girls Club member will be accompanied to the mound by the Grammy-winning country singer.
McGraw was invited by the Phillies and Major League Baseball as a symbolic gesture to honor his late father, Tug McGraw. Tug pitched the Phillies to a World Series win in 1980 and was the last pitcher to close a World Series win for the team.
Two-time Grammy-winning R&B and soul singer/songwriter Patti LaBelle will perform the anthem prior to Game 4. The game will start at 7 p.m. Sunday.
A native of Philadelphia, LaBelle has had a career in contemporary music that has spanned more than 40 years. She has released 30 albums, which have produced 35 singles on the American R&B Top 100 Chart, with 26 reaching the Top 40 and 12 reaching Top 10. Two of her singles, “Lady Marmalade” and “On My Own,” a duet with Michael McDonald, became No. 1 singles on the American Hot 100 Singles chart. Her most recent album, “The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle,” debuted at No. 1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart. In addition to being a successful singer, LaBelle is also an author with four best-sellers, actress, activist and entrepreneur with her own brand of clothing, jewelry, perfume and makeup.
Military personnel from the Philadelphia area will perform “God Bless America” during the seventh inning of both games.
-BAM
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Comments
As a Canadian I was embarassed for my American friends when I heard that travesty tonight. The anthem in its original format is beautiful, why butcher it? And she was not the only one!
Patti Labelle, the Phillys and MLB should all be ashamed of that terrible rendition of the National Anthem. On a scale from 1 to 100 there is a gap of some 99 points between Whitney Houston’s version and Patti LaBelle’s.
I was so disgusted with Labelles rendition of the National Anthem. I agree with all of the posts here. I have been singing opera all over the world for the last ten years after working my butt off during school for over ten years. I have been a struggling musician all these years but even my eight year old students know that you better know your words before you go out there to perform. What a disgrace to sing such a powerful and passionate song that every American should know by heart in such a terrible and careless manner. What does this say about Americans? Yes I am apalled. They always pick the most famous instead of the best qualified. This is America for you! Star power always trumps beauty and accuracy. Maybe next year they will learn from this. I watched this with my boyfriend and my 103, yes 103 year old Grandmother. I will never forget her words: “That was just awful, don’t you agree?” That says it all. Even someone who is wheelchair bound, hard of hearing and couldn’t care less for baselball hit the nail right on the head! Imagine those of us who are passinate about freedom, baseball and singing: I cried. Yes it may sound silly and stupid but I have been to places where children drink filthy water and don’t have food to eat yet they sing and dance. Here is a woman who has it all and she butchers the song that stands for all she has. Unbelievable. Whitney, you still rock in my eyes; Maybe next time! I love the USA!!! Play Ball my friends!!! Make us proud Tampa Bay!!!!! More cowbell!!!!!
This dawgfan has to agree with gatorfan. What a load of rubbish! Wrong tune; wrong words; wrong singer (and I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt when I call that singing). The Star Spangled Banner is America’s song. What the hell’s wrong with just singing it the way it was written. If these yoyos want to do their own “interpretation” let them recorded it, put on an album, and try to sale the damn thing. I’m utterly disgusted.
I have to agree that is one of the worst renditions of the National Anthem I’ve ever had to sit through. It’s a toss up between Patti and Rosanne for the crown of “Star Spangled Butcher”.
Oh my God, Patti just embarrassed herself and Philly!!! The National Anthem was disgraced beyond believability.