Kristin Chenoweth Defends National Anthem High Note After Backlash: ‘That’s the Time to Really Sing It’

Kristin Chenoweth reflected on the national anthem and why she chose to hit that memorable high note at the 2025 NBA finals earlier this week — after being bombarded with criticism for her performance.

“You know, sometimes when I get asked to do the anthem, it’s by either the NFL or the network or something,” she told The Oklahoman on Monday, June 23. “But this one was the Thunder, and I took it very seriously.”

While Hairspray Live! star, 56, said she “always” takes singing that particular song “very seriously” due to its “beautiful” lyrics, she “did want to set the tone” for the game and “just get everybody ready to really cheer their brains out to, hopefully, win.”

“Yeah, I went up to the high C. It’s the night to do it, you know?” she continued, noting that she is from Oklahoma and the Thunder is her “favorite” basketball team. “It’s the very final game; we’re at home; we want this championship. We’ve never been there. It’s our turn. All of those things are going through my mind. So, that’s the time to really sing it.”

And it just might have worked: The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 103-91 on Sunday, June 22, making them the winners of the championship.

Unfortunately, not everyone appreciated her belting out the popular tune her own way. As Star previously reported, the Wicked actress faced wildly mixed reviews on social media following her performance at the highly-anticipated NBA game.

One X user claimed, “She would have probably been fine if she hadn’t tried to show off by carrying that one note too long,” while another person added, “Why fix what’s not broken? Changing it up doesn’t make it better.”

Meanwhile, a gushing fan called her “perfect in every way” and praised her version as being “in the top five best ever renditions of the beautiful ‘Star-Spangled Banner.’”

Following the game, Chenoweth appeared to subtly call out the backlash herself on social media with a cryptic quote shared to Instagram Story that read, “The price of authenticity is being disliked.”

She did not confirm if she was referring to her performance or another situation entirely.

As for if she would be willing to do it all again, Chenoweth told The Oklahoman, “I’m always gonna try to be here if they ask me, because it’s my team. I bleed blue, yellow and orange. What can I tell you?”