A Canadian is set to perform at the 2021 NBA All-Star Game remotely from Toronto

BarDown Staff

Siakam hopes resurgent Raptors will be represented at NBA All-Star Game

One of Canada’s biggest artists will be performing alongside a seven-time Grammy winner at the 2021 NBA All-Star game.

The NBA announced Brampton native Alessia Cara will sing the Canadian national anthem remotely from Toronto ahead of tip-off on March 7th. Cara will be joined by some elite company, as Gladys Knight is scheduled to take care of the Star Spangled Banner right before live at Atlanta’s Statefarm Arena. According to Variety, Knight recently received the COVID-19 vaccine.

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The NBA will also pay tribute to historically Black colleges and universities throughout the evening. The Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society Choir is set to deliver a performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing” remotely from the school’s campus, which will pay tribute to Clark Atlanta alum and songwriter of the national Black anthem James Weldon Johnson.

The Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band and Florida A&M University Marching 100 are also scheduled to perform remotely from their respective campuses during player introductions. Variety also added that step teams from Spelman College and Morehouse College will be introduced by members of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities, a prestigious group of nine historically Black Greek letter organizations during the games.

Throughout the night, the league will pay tribute to the vital role of HBCUs through music, content and storytelling, including an original rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by the Clark Atlanta University (@CAU) Philharmonic Society Choir. pic.twitter.com/vzcORWxYOl
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 23, 2021

Now that we’re on the topic of national anthems at the all-star game, we have to include the most famous one of all time. February 13, 1983. Who could forget Marvin Gaye’s all-time performance?