As you probably saw (and suffered through), the Backstreet Boys sang the National Anthem before Game 1 of the World Series at Tropicana Field.

(We'll spare you posting a photo of that unfortunate incident.)

The Los Lonely Boys are singing in Tampa today.


The Phillies announced their National Anthem rotation this afternoon. Taylor Swift in Game 3. I'd say the Phillies won this competition.

(The entire press release is below.)




MUSICAL PERFORMERS SET FOR GAMES THREE AND FOUR OF 2008 WORLD SERIES
Taylor Swift, Patti LaBelle and Military Personnel to Perform at Citizens Bank Park
Tim McGraw to Deliver Game Three Ball with Member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Multi-platinum country artist Taylor Swift will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game Three of the 2008 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Two-time Grammy award winning R&B and soul singer/songwriter Patti LaBelle will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game Four of the 2008 World Series. Military personnel from the Philadelphia area will perform God Bless America in the seventh inning of both Games.
A local member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the official charity of Major League Baseball, will deliver the first game ball to the mound at Games Three and Four. At Game Three, the Boys & Girls Club member will be accompanied to the mound by Grammy award winning artist, Tim McGraw. McGraw was invited by the Phillies and Major League Baseball as a symbolic gesture to honor his late father, Tug McGraw. Tug pitched the Phillies to a World Series win in 1980 and was the last pitcher to close a World Series win for the team. Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift first sang the National Anthem for a professional sports event at the age of 10 for her hometown team, the Reading Phillies. She made her debut on the Billboard country charts with her debut single “Tim McGraw” which peaked at #6 on the charts in 2006. Following “Tim McGraw” were “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Our Song,” “Picture to Burn” and “Should’ve Said No,” all of which were top hits on the Billboard’s country and pop charts. Her self-titled debut album, “Taylor Swift,” sold over 3 million copies as she became the first female solo artist in country music to write or co-write every song on a platinum-selling debut CD. On November 11, 2008, Taylor will release her sophomore studio album “Fearless”.
A native of Philadelphia, Patti LaBelle has had a career in contemporary music that has spanned over 40 years. She has released 30 albums which have produced 35 singles on the American R&B Top 100 Chart with 26 reaching the Top 40 and 12 reaching Top 10. Two of her singles, “Lady Marmalade” and “On My Own”, a duet with Michael McDonald, became #1 singles on the American Hot 100 Singles chart. Her most recent album, “The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle,” debuted at #1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart. In
addition to being a successful singer, LaBelle is also an author with four best-sellers, actress, activist and entrepreneur with her own brand of clothing, jewelry, perfume and makeup.
The 2008 World Series will be televised nationally by FOX Sports and televised around the world by Major League Baseball International in 13 languages to 229 countries and territories around the world. ESPN Radio and XM Satellite Radio will provide national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage and MLB Radio will provide exclusive play-by-play coverage of the game on the Internet.