Who is singing the national anthem at the 2026 Indy 500?
Ahead of today’s 110th edition of the iconic race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will welcome back a familiar face for “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
The Grammy-nominated artist Jordin Sparks will perform the U.S. national anthem before today’s Indianapolis 500, having been tapped by race organizers for the third time in her career.
“A special moment”
Sparks, who rose to fame when she won American Idol just under two decades ago, previously sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Indy 500 in 2015 and 2024.
“Jordin knows how important the national anthem performance is to the pre-race ceremonies of the Indianapolis 500, and we have been moved by her two previous renditions,” IndyCar chief J. Douglas Boles said in a statement announcing Sparks’ selection.
“This year’s performance will be a special moment as we mark the 250th birthday of our nation and prepare for another incredible edition of the world’s greatest race.”
Watch Sparks’ 2024 rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner”:
From American Idol to Hollywood
When she won American Idol at just 17, Sparks became the reality-TV music contest’s youngest ever champion. Since then, her four studio albums have featured singles that have accrued more than 10 million digital sales in the U.S. Most notably, her 2008 track “No Air”, a duet with Chris Brown, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
During a career that has secured her two nods at the Grammy Awards - for “No Air” and 2022’s “Love Me Like I Am” - Sparks has also earned recognition as a songwriter for fellow stars. In 2014, she won a BMI Award for collaborating on the composition of Ariana Grande’s debut single “The Way”.
Sparks, now 36, has also appeared on both Broadway and the big screen. Indeed, the Arizona native’s film debut, in the 2012 musical Sparkle, saw her appear alongside the late pop legend Whitney Houston.
When is the 2026 Indy 500?
Held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, the 110th edition of the Indy 500 is scheduled for a 12:45 p.m. ET/9:45 p.m. PT start. Viewers in the U.S. can watch live coverage of today’s event, and the pre-race build-up, on Fox, Fox Deportes and Fox One from 10:00 a.m. ET/7:00 a.m. PT.
You can stream Fox live on the online platform fubo, which offers new users a free, introductory trial.
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