The pre-game ceremony at a World Series game is usually a high-stress, high-reward moment for any vocalist. You’ve got millions of people watching, a stadium full of fans ready to erupt, and the weight of tradition resting on a single microphone. When we talk about the national anthem World Series Game 4, things get interesting because we’ve actually had two very different "Game 4s" in the last two years that people are still buzzing about.
Honestly, the energy in the stadium during these moments is thick. It's not just about hitting the high notes; it's about not being the person who ends up as a "fail" compilation on YouTube.
The Night Ashanti Took Over Yankee Stadium
In 2024, the World Series was a heavyweight clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. By the time Game 4 rolled around on October 29, the vibe in the Bronx was desperate. The Yankees were down 3-0 in the series. They needed a spark, and they looked to a New York native to provide it.
Ashanti, the Grammy-winning R&B icon, stepped onto the grass at Yankee Stadium to deliver "The Star-Spangled Banner."
It was a classic performance. She didn't try to reinvent the wheel or add so many runs that the song became unrecognizable. Instead, she leaned into that soulful, hometown energy. You’ve probably seen the clips—the crowd was locked in. Paul O’Neill, a Yankees legend, threw out the first pitch right after, and the Yankees actually managed to stay alive that night with an 11-4 win.
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People still talk about that specific national anthem World Series Game 4 because it felt like the last stand for New York. It was polished, professional, and exactly what a playoff crowd wants: a singer who can actually sing the song without making it about their own ego.
2025: A Different Vibe with Tinashe and Deborah Cox
Fast forward to 2025. The Dodgers were back at it, this time facing off against the Toronto Blue Jays. Since we had a Canadian team in the mix, the pre-game ceremony doubled in length and complexity.
On October 28, 2025, for Game 4 at Dodger Stadium, the league brought out some serious R&B firepower. Tinashe took on the U.S. national anthem, while Canadian R&B queen Deborah Cox handled "O Canada."
- Tinashe brought a more modern, airy feel to the American anthem.
- Deborah Cox was, as expected, a powerhouse. She was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2022, so she’s basically royalty up north.
- The flyover featured five AT-6 planes from the Condor Squadron, which always adds that "big event" feel to the final notes.
But here’s the thing: not everyone was happy. If you spend five minutes on sports subreddits or Twitter, you’ll see the fans were split. Some loved the R&B flair, while others were still complaining about JP Saxe’s performance from Game 3, where he apparently changed a lyric in the Canadian anthem that didn't sit well with traditionalists.
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Basically, by the time the national anthem World Series Game 4 started in 2025, the audience was already on edge. Tinashe and Cox did their jobs well, but the "purists" in the stands were watching with a microscope.
Why This Specific Game Always Feels Different
There is something weirdly specific about Game 4. In a best-of-seven series, Game 4 is the pivot point. It’s either the "sweep" game or the "we have a series now" game.
Because the stakes are so high, the anthem feels heavier. In 2024, Ashanti had to rally a dying stadium. In 2025, Tinashe and Deborah Cox had to bridge a literal international gap between LA and Toronto.
The "Brad Paisley" Factor
You can't talk about Dodgers anthem history without mentioning Brad Paisley. He’s the unofficial "anthem king" of Chavez Ravine. He did Game 1 in 2024 and Game 3 in 2025.
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Interestingly, Paisley has a weird habit of performing the anthem for the longest games in history. He did the 18-inning marathon in 2018 and Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam game in 2024. By the time we get to Game 4, fans are usually looking for a different "good luck charm," which is why the league rotates in names like Ashanti or Tinashe to change the "juju."
What to Watch for Next Time
If you're heading to a World Series game or just watching from your couch, there are a few things that actually matter for a "good" performance:
- Pacing: Anything over 2 minutes and 10 seconds starts to feel like a hostage situation.
- The High Note: "The land of the free" is the make-or-break moment. If they go flat there, the internet will never let them forget it.
- The Crowd Response: If the crowd starts singing along halfway through, the artist has won. If the crowd is silent and looking at their phones, the performance is a bust.
The national anthem World Series Game 4 has become a bit of a showcase for R&B talent lately, moving away from the operatic or country stars that dominated the early 2010s. Whether it's Ashanti's hometown pride or Tinashe's modern style, the goal remains the same: don't mess up the words and get the crowd ready for some baseball.
If you’re curious about how these performances compare to the all-time greats, you should check out the footage of Whitney Houston in 1991. It’s still the gold standard that every Game 4 singer is secretly (or not so secretly) trying to emulate.
Next time you’re watching the pre-game, pay attention to the tempo—if they start dragging the "oh say can you see," you know you're in for a long night.
Want to see the highlights? You can find the official MLB recaps of Ashanti's 2024 performance or the 2025 Tinashe/Cox duo on the MLB Film Room or their YouTube channel to judge the vocals for yourself.