Five of the most memorable national anthem performances from 2015
Last year on National Anthem Day, we ranked some of our favorite performances from the past few years. Considering just how many times the Star-Spangled Banner is sung every season, there were a lot to choose from. This year when selecting our top picks, we're restricting things to just the past 365 days -- and still, a lot of choices. But Thursday marks 85 years with our national anthem, and its most memorable renditions must be honored.
So, please rise, find yourself a standoff partner and let us know in the comments below if we missed your personal fave.
5. Billy Joel: World Series Game 3
It was a World Series game in New York, so of course Joel was going to sing -- and he did not disappoint. He gets bonus points, too, for singing the Long Island anthem later in the game.
4. T-Pain: Giants-Dodgers, Aug. 31
T-Pain, no auto-tune. T-Pain, no auto-tune. It was marvelous.
3. Ciara: All-Star Game
You gotta bring your A-game for the ASG. Ciara did.
2. Stephen Colbert: First episode of "The Late Show"
OK, so this one wasn't technically at an MLB game. But after going all around the country, it concluded on a baseball diamond with Jon Stewart, in full umpire regalia, shouting "Play Ball!" So yeah, we're counting it.
1. Petrina McCutchen
There are few people on this planet who are better at singing the national anthem before baseball games than Andrew McCutchen's mom. Or, put another way: She's as good at the Star-Spangled Banner as her son is at playing ball.
Honorable Mention: Hiccup hero
This one is from the Australian Baseball League, so it's not, you know, the Star-Spangled Banner. But please, just watch this: