If you listen to sports talk radio here in Boston, you know there are a lot of “local subplots” to the 2016 World Series between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs. But beyond Theo Epstein vs. Terry Francona, and a lineup of Jon Lester, Andrew Miller, Mike Napoli, David Ross, John Lackey, and whatever other former Boston Red Sox luminaries we’re forgetting as we watch the game, a surprise homegrown element showed up just before the first pitch this evening: Rachel Platten.
The Emmy Award-winning Newton native, who sings both the ubiquitous Top 40 hit “Fight Song” (you know it) and the Nationwide insurance jingle, belted out the Star Spangled Banner earlier tonight at Progressive Field, the first of two anthem performers that have Clevelanders scratching their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-sized heads.
Platten is no stranger to Major League Baseball, as she sang “Fight Song” at the 2016 All-Star game at Petco Park in San Diego. And from all accounts, she did a decent job with our anthem.
Judge for yourself via the bootleg via below, and take note: Platten is nominated for Pop Artist of the Year in the 2016 Boston Music Awards. Who knows if she’ll show up to the House of Blues for the December 8 ceremony; she performs in Worcester three days earlier.
Hi from the #WorldSeries! I'm singing the national anthem tonight at 7:30pm on Fox. You can watch the game afterwards as well if you'd like. pic.twitter.com/7jLxgzgxWf
— Rachel Platten (@RachelPlatten) October 25, 2016