Mickey Guyton is set to sing The Star-Spangled Banner before Game 5, giving the San Antonio Spurs a familiar national anthem voice for a game with their season on the line. The country singer from Arlington, Texas, steps into the spotlight as San Antonio trails the New York Knicks 3-1.
That backdrop makes the moment feel bigger than a standard pregame performance. If the Spurs can extend the series, they would still need to win the next two games to force a Game 7 back at the Frost Bank Center.
Who Mickey Guyton Is
Guyton, 42, is a four-time Grammy nominee best known for her 2022 album Remember Her Name. She also made history in 2021 as the first Black woman to host the Academy of Country Music Awards, alongside Keith Urban.
She Has Done This Before
This is not her first time handling a major national anthem assignment. Guyton also performed before Super Bowl LVI in 2022, when the Los Angeles Rams met the Cincinnati Bengals.
What the Spurs Have Used So Far
The anthem duties in the earlier Finals games have already featured different names. Tori Kelly performed before Game 1, while Kels handled Game 2.
With the series still tilted toward New York, Guyton’s performance adds another notable chapter to a game the Spurs need to win. The matchup gives the team one more chance to keep its season alive, and it does so with a singer who has already been trusted on some of the biggest stages in sports.