Stars who butchered ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’

FEAR not, Fergie, you’re not the only well-known singer who has butchered the US national anthem in public. Here are the worst renditions of all time.

Christina Aguilera performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLV Pregame Show in 2011. Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

FERGIE’S not the only singer who has absolutely butchered the The Star-Spangled Banner.

The former Black Eyed Peas singer was mocked around the world for her rendition of the US national anthem at the recent NBA All-Star game with some labelling it “the worst ever”.

Fergie released an apology after the performance, telling TMZ: “I’ve always been honoured and proud to perform the national anthem and last night I wanted to try something special for the NBA. I’m a risk-taker artistically, but clearly this rendition didn’t strike the intended tone. I love this country and honestly tried my best.”

Players react to @Fergie National Anthem Performance 😂😭 pic.twitter.com/1oeYrFYugp

— Urban Society (@UrbanSociety__) February 20, 2018

But fear not, Fergie Ferg, you’re not alone. Several other well-known singers have massacred The Star-Spangled Banner in public. Here are some of the most infamous performances.

ROSEANNE BARR

In 1990, the comedian became one of the most hated women in America when she gave a shrieking rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at a baseball game.

Many thought she was taking the piss, but Roseanne told the Washington Post in 2015 that she was taking it seriously.

“I was singing in my act at the time — and I am a good singer. I was flattered and fully intended to sing a good version of the song,” she told the Washington Post.

“I started too high. I knew about six notes in that I couldn’t hit the big note. So I just tried to get through it, but I couldn’t hear anything with 50,000 drunk asses booing, screaming ‘you fat [expletive],’ giving me the finger and throwing bottles at me during the song they ‘respect’ so much.”

The US President at the time, George Bush Sr, labelled the performance “disgraceful” and Roseanne’s career suffered immensely.

“Do I regret that the next day all of my projects were cancelled and I had to have LAPD stand on my roof and protect my life and my kids for two years?” she told the Washington Post.

“Do I regret not being able to go out in public for about one full year without being spit on-in restaurants, 7-Eleven?

“Actually, no, I don’t regret any of it,” she told the publication.

STEVEN TYLER

The lead singer of Aerosmith was panned for his rendition on The Star-Spangled Banner at the Indy 500 in 2001 which he kicked off with a harmonica solo.

That was forgivable but when he changed the lyrics from “o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave” to “for the land of the free and the home of the Indianapolis 500,” that was a step too far for most Americans who were absolutely outraged.

MICHAEL BOLTON

The two-time Grammy Award winner was singing the national anthem at a 2003 baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees when he forgot the words.

After a brief pause, Bolton had to sneak a peek at his hand where he’d written down the lyrics.

And the crowd was unforgiving, booing him for the remainder of the song.

Skip to the 45 second mark for the good bit.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA

In 2011, Christina Aguilera was smashed in the press for stuffing up the lyrics to the national anthem at the Super Bowl.

Aguilera should have sung:

O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming

But instead sang:

What so proudly we watched at the twilight’s last reaming

Immediately after her performance, Aguilera issued an apology, saying: “I got so lost in the moment of the song that I lost my place. I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through.”

She later appeared on Ellen and joked about her small stuff-up.

“That night I knew, I just made myself a Trivial Pursuit question,” Aguilera said.

“In 2011 what female singer, ya know, flubbed the lyrics. It’s just insane. But I have a really good laugh about it and you get over things. You get back up again and you just prove to yourself and to everyone you that you’re that much stronger.”

Originally published as Stars who butchered ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’