Who Performed the National Anthem at Tonight's NCAA Championship Game?

Spectators attending the Men’s NCAA National Championship game witnessed an impressive performance of the National Anthem, leaving those watching from home curious about the identity of the artist behind this exceptional display.

Former Sergeant Amazes Audience With Performance of National Anthem at Final Four

The packed Alamodome in San Antonio hosted the event prior to the national championship game featuring the University of Houston and the University of Florida. The distinguished retired Air Force Master Sergeant Robert Carter was privileged to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Carter's performance elicited a robust reaction from the 31,900 spectators present, with the U.S. military color guard in front of them. Before he concluded, the audience started cheering, and they offered him a thunderous round of applause at the last note.

Carter is well-versed in performances. He started playing drums when he was just 6 years old, however, it took till high school for him to find his true calling in singing—especially after an impactful moment during his senior-year rendition of "Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph and the Vibrant Multicolored Fantasy Coat , when he momentarily forgot the lyrics.

Carter recounted with a chuckle, "Rather than simply halting, I confessed to the crowd in the same tune that I had forgotten the lyrics." during an interview At Osan Air Base in South Korea, "Once it all came flooding back to me, I dove right back into the performance. The crowd began laughing, and at that moment, I realized—this is where I belong onstage."

Throughout his time in the Air Force, Carter maintained an interest in music. At one point, he even tried out for NBC's "America's Got Talent" and played alongside Tops In Blue, which serves as the official entertainment troupe of the Air Force. Additionally, he had the opportunity to open for the band Alabama and has been invited multiple times to sing the national anthem at various NFL and college football matches, such as the Salute to Service game held between the Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers in November 2022.

Watch: National Anthem Performed by Master Sgt. Robert Carter

The video of Sgt. Carter’s anthem undoubtedly clarifies why fans were deeply affected.

Carter's theme song launched the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship in an exceptionally impressive manner.

KEEP READING: How Kelvin Sampson Transformed Houston Into a Contender

Spectators could only wish that the gameplay on the court from then on would be as exciting.

Tune into College Sports Network for up-to-date news, comprehensive features, special backstage insights, and all the essentials to keep track of your preferred teams. college football , men’s and women’s basketball , baseball teams , and much more—all in one location.