Chaka Khanmay beevery woman, but her rendition of the national anthem is unlike any other.
On Sunday, the 66-year-old Grammy winner gave a unique and memorable performance of the patriotic song during the2020 NBA All-Star Game, which aired on TNT.
The event — which was held at United Arena in Chicago, Illinois — also saw tributes to late basketball legendKobe Bryant, plus musical performances fromJennifer HudsonandChance the Rapper, among others.
“#NBAAllStar2020 game was so much fun & exciting in my hometown ? #Chicago?,”wroteKhan on Instagram, sharing photos of herself posing withGirls TripcostarsTiffany Haddish, andQueen Latifah, andKendall Jenner‘s on-off boyfriendBen Simmons.
Khan’s distinct vocalization prompted both lauding and jesting from viewers about her take on “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“Chaka Khan a legend and all but…. that rendition of the anthem was something #NBAAllStar2020,”wroteone user, while anotherjoked: “Chaka Khan is an icon. No slander will be tolerated. Not this Black History Month ?.”
Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty
Magic Johnson, for one, enjoyed Khan’s musical stylings,tweeting, “…Chaka Khan’s star spangled banner rendition was amazing!”
“I’m not watching the all star game but my phone is ringing off the hook. My guess is someone did a weird ‘Star Spangled?’ ”wroteQuestloveon Twitter.
The way in which viewers latched on to Khan’s performance on social media harkens back to two years ago whenFergie’s national anthem went viralfrom the same sporting event.
Attention to the “Big Girls Don’t Cry” singer’s version of the song, given at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, was so strong, Fergie even issued aformal apology.
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Fergie, 44, saw support from her ex-husbandJosh Duhamel, whostood up for herduring the backlash.
“I think that she would probably admit that it was not her best work. But the girl’s crazy-talented, she really is. And she’s an amazing woman, an amazing human being,” he said onThe Ellen DeGeneres Showin 2018.
He added: “It’s hard to see someone you care about get beat up like that. But that’s the business — you’re in this business, and you put yourself out there; sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t.”
source: people.com
