The singer from Texas will perform the national anthem before the Knicks and Spurs face off.
As the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs prepare for one of the biggest games of the NBA season, another star will take center stage before tipoff.
Country singer Mickey Guyton is set to perform the national anthem before Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The performance places the Texas native in front of a massive audience as the Spurs fight to keep their championship hopes alive and the Knicks chase their first title in more than five decades.
For Guyton, however, performing on a major stage is nothing new.
Here are five things to know about the acclaimed singer ahead of her NBA Finals appearance.
She is a Grammy nominated country star
Guyton has become one of country music’s most recognizable voices over the past decade.
Born Candace Mycale Guyton in Arlington, Texas, she moved to Nashville to pursue a music career and signed with Capitol Records Nashville. Over the years, she has blended country, pop and R&B influences to create a sound that has earned both commercial success and critical praise.
The singer has received multiple Grammy nominations throughout her career and is widely regarded as one of the genre’s most influential modern artists.
Her album Remember Her Name helped define her career
Guyton is perhaps best known for her music that draws from her personal experiences.
Her debut studio album, Remember Her Name, introduced listeners to songs centered on identity, family and perseverance.
The project followed the success of her 2020 single Black Like Me, which brought national attention to her experiences as a Black woman in country music and helped elevate her profile within the industry.
Other popular songs in her catalog include Home Movies, Somethin Bout You and Lay It On Me, tracks that continue to attract millions of streams across music platforms.
She made history at the Academy of Country Music Awards
Guyton has repeatedly broken barriers throughout her career. In 2021, she became the first Black woman to host the Academy of Country Music Awards.
She also became the first Black woman ever nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance, a milestone that marked a significant moment for both the artist and the country music industry.
Her achievements have helped open doors for greater representation in a genre that has historically lacked diversity.
She is no stranger to major sporting events
The NBA Finals will not be Guyton’s first performance at a high-profile sporting event.
In 2022, she sang The Star Spangled Banner before Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, becoming the first Black female country artist to perform the national anthem at the NFL’s championship game.
That appearance introduced her to millions of sports fans and showcased her ability to deliver under immense pressure.
She has since remained a sought-after performer for nationally televised events, making her selection for the NBA Finals a natural fit.
Her Texas roots make this performance especially meaningful
Although it is unclear whether Guyton is a longtime Spurs fan, her connection to Texas runs deep.
The singer was born in Arlington and spent much of her early life in the state before relocating to Nashville to pursue music full time.
Performing the national anthem in San Antonio gives her an opportunity to return home for one of basketball’s biggest nights.
The moment also arrives at a pivotal point in the NBA Finals.
The Spurs enter Game 5 trailing the Knicks 3-1 in the series and needing a victory to keep their season alive. New York, meanwhile, is attempting to capture its first NBA championship since 1973.
Before the players take the court, all eyes will briefly turn to Guyton as she delivers one of the most recognizable songs in sports.
For a performer who has built a career on overcoming obstacles and making history, it is another major stage in a journey that continues to inspire fans across music and sports alike.