Anita Baker anthem singing of the Star Spangled banner didn’t go quite as planned.

The National Anthem is always sung by professional performers, but Anita Baker is receiving negative responses. Anita Baker found herself singing the Star Spangled banner, a National Anthem of unity, but found it more like an embarrassment than an honor to sing.

Baker, 52, was shaky and couldn’t reach the high notes right before Game 4 of the NBA finals. Remember, this is an R&B singer that has won eight Grammy awards, but for some reason she had the audience screaming for her to stop. Basketball fans couldn’t wait for the Lakers and the Celtics to take the court for the championship title, but Anita Baker obviously needed some help.

There have been many performers who have sung the Star Spangled banner over the years, earning their spots in history for creating memorable moments. Beyonce and Whitney Houston are two who have been revered for their singing of the Star Spangled Banner. Unfortunately, Anita Baker’s version isn’t being met with praise.

Instead, comments are popping up across the web likening her performance to that of a dying cat. Interestingly enough, last night’s version of the Star Spangled Banner wasn’t the first time that Baker sang the Star Spangled banner. Some of her longest fans are saying that they simply couldn’t bear to listen to it, but everyone wants to know what happened and what changed with this R&B singer.