Getting booked to sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at a major event is an honor for any artist. Many will try anything -- whether it's fiddling with the arrangement or striving for the glory notes that only five-octave powerhouses like Whitney could hit -- to put their own memorable stamp on the national anthem. Alas, not everyone -- in fact, almost no one -- reaches a level of true greatness. With that in mind, cover your heart and hold your ears as Billboard brings you the 10 worst national anthem performances ever.

National Anthem - The Star-Spangled Banner (USA Anthem) Lyrics Oh, say! Can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming; Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly stream. Learn all about each countries' national anthems lyrics as well as view landscapes and attractions.

1. 10

   Keri Hilson2010

   
   Keri Hilson has the vocal chops to make 'The Star-Spangled Banner' soar, but unfortunately, the R&B star's performance at an NBA Lakers vs. Hawks game in 2010 did just the opposite. Why? Hilson committed the sin of all sins: forgetting the lyrics. Let the grumbling commence!

2. Christina Aguilera2011

   
   No one is saying that Christina Aguilera, with her powerhouse glory notes, couldn't totally kill 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' But did she at the 2011 Super Bowl? Nope. Aguilera changed the words in the song's fourth line, merging the lyrics with the song's second line. And that final note? Yeesh.

3. R. Kelly2005

   
   Notoriously excellent at turning ordinary performances into logic-defying moments, R. Kelly must have been trying to channel the great Marvin Gaye when he decided to go with a soul arrangement of the national anthem for a boxing bout. The results got people talking, but for all the wrong reasons, from the unnecessary use of handclaps to the even more unnecessary use of Chicago step dancers.

4. 7

   Steven Tyler2001 & 2012

   The Aerosmith frontman's one-of-a-kind voice is perfectly suited to howling choruses like 'Love in an elevatuhhh,' 'What did her daddy doooo,' or, 'Dream until you're dreams come truuue.' 'O'er the land of the freeeee,' however? Not so much. And he just won't stop singing it, most recently botching the words at the 2012 AFC Championship Game.

5. Aaron Neville, Aretha Franklin & Dr. John2006

   
   It had all the makings of a potentially great national anthem performance. Super Bowl XL was the first since Hurricane Katrina, and two New Orleans heroes -- Aaron Neville and Dr. John -- were there to proudly represent their hometown, along with Detroit soul queen Aretha Franklin. Also, a gospel choir! But sadly, these elements added up to something that just didn't leave us feeling good. Perplexed, maybe, and surely uncomfortable. But definitely not good.

6. Scott Stapp2005

   
   The Grammy Award-winning voice of Creed has bungled the national anthem on several occasions, but a 2005 performance from the NASCAR Ford 400 best demonstrates why this man should never sing this song. Severed notes and brooding growls do not a good 'Star-Spangled Banner' make.

7. 4

   Michael Bolton2003

   
   Before there was Sarah Palin reading notes from her hand, there was Michael Bolton. At a Red Sox vs. Yankees baseball game in 2003, the crooner invited the wrath of fans when he dared to peek at the lyrics scrawled on his palm. Between that and the bizarre echo following his every line, Bolton's performance was an epic fail.

8. Fergie2018

   2018’s NBA All Star Weekend called for Fergie, and Fergie is exactly what they got. In what many are (jokingly) calling a piece of protest performance art against the anthem, the former Black Eyed Peas singer gave one of the most “creative” renditions of the anthem. (One astute Twitter user described it, in a since-deleted tweet, as “Amy Winehouse doing a Britney Spears impersonation.') The performance’s lasting legacy was made clear before it was even over, as Chance the Rapper, Jimmy Kimmel, and nearly everyone on the court giggled quietly or laughed openly as it happened.

   Because it’s 2018, the Internet immediately blew up the situation, prompting a response from Fergie, who explained “I'm a risk taker artistically, but clearly this rendition didn't strike the intended tone.' She added: 'I love this country and honestly tried my best.”

9. Roseanne Barr1990

   
   Even the most thick-skinned Americans had their feathers ruffled by Roseanne Barr's national anthem performance at a 1990 San Diego Padres game. She wanted to be obnoxious, in a number of ways -- by shouting the lyrics totally off-key, grabbing her crotch, and spitting on the pitcher's mound -- and it worked. The best part of this particular video, though, is that it serves to remind us that Madonna not only felt honored by Barr's performance but spoke with an entirely different accent two decades ago.

10. 1

    Kat DeLuna2008

    
    Once a pop newcomer with a bright future, the Dominican singer never quite recovered from this national anthem performance at a 2008 Dallas Cowboys game. Any way you look at it, it's a spectacular failure. She tries too hard to hit the notes that only a rarefied circle of divas can, then takes us on a painfully bumpy roller coaster ride of vocal runs. She half-forgets the lyrics. She completely botches the last note. And she does it all with the swagger of something who believes she's positively killing it. When a chorus of boos erupts at the end, it's far too little, too late.

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America's best take on the nation's most iconic song at its premier sporting event.

Since the Super Bowl stands at the pinnacle of American sports, it's no surprise that the nation’s most-high profile competition also boasts an iconic annual music tradition -- the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” for a global audience in the hundreds of millions.

Since its first inception in 1967, the Super Bowl has included an offering of the national anthem, and in recent decades, the visibility has only increased as music superstars take to the mic to deliver America’s sacred song.

While more than 30 performers have undertaken the roughly two-minute challenge, here are Billboard’s top 10 picks for the best Super Bowl performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” through 2016:

10. Dixie Chicks – 2003

The reigning country queens with big personalities turned in a surprisingly modest but remarkable “Star-Spangled Banner” in San Diego, opting for a straightforward approach strengthened with alluring harmonies. The Chicks’ patriotic ode ironically preceded a major political backlash: mere weeks later, lead singer Natalie Maines’ comments about President George W. Bush led to a politically-charged controversy that the Chicks’ career has yet to fully recover from.

9. Faith Hill – 2000

The country diva seized the mic at the turn of the millennium, and offered one of the cleanest vocal renditions to date. The relatively simple backing band -- compared with some of the massive orchestras in other years -- lets Faith’s voice take center stage, which doesn’t shrink from the challenge. Perhaps the best part, though, is the final flourish: a clenched fist, candid grin and a mouthed “whoo.' She’s nailed it, and she knows it.

8. Choirs of the Armed Forces – 2005

In a break from the star-studded roster that had honored America for decades, organizers aimed the spotlight on the nation’s military during the 2005 Super Bowl. With choirs from all five branches of the armed forces accompanied by the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, this poignant version resonates, particularly in the shadow of the escalating conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq at the time.

7. Lady Gaga - 2016

By the time Lady Gaga hit the Super Bowl stage in 2016, she'd been preparing audiences for her vocal display for the better part of a year. In addition to various appearances to support Cheek to Cheek, her jazz and standards album with Tony Bennett, she also won praise for a medley of songs from The Sound of Music at the 87th Academy Awards. Little surprise, then, that Gaga painted her rendition of the anthem with a full-throated, theatrical-leaning take that was a nod to her performance roots. And for the Little Monsters who hoped for a bold outfit to complement the booming voice, Gaga rocked a glittery red pantsuit with platform shoes and blue-starred nails in a full-body tribute to the stars and stripes.

6. Mariah Carey - 2002

As one of the definitive voices in pop music, it's a little odd that Mimi didn't score her Super Bowl turn until more than a decade into her career. Still, Mariah's turn at the microphone held a place in history, coming as the first Super Bowl game after the Sept. Minecraft pc game full version. 11, 2001 attacks. With the memory still fresh on the American consciousness (and a commorative statue placed in the stadium), the songbird soared with an apt, solemn rendition before cresting on the song's ending, including a visit to the whistle register on 'the land of the free.'

5. Luther Vandross - 1997

Everything Luther sang was smooth, and his “Star-Spangled Banner” is no exception. With a velvety, R&B-laced arrangement backing him, Luther cuts out the most suave rendition since Marvin Gaye’s legendary NBA All-Star interpretation in 1983. For those who prefer a little more gusto with their national anthems, Luther raises the stakes at the end, showing his mastery of both vocal purring and power.

4. Kelly Clarkson – 2012

The pop superstar offered a soul-tinged interpretation on the country’s standard song in Indianapolis, complete with an angelic backing choir. A decade removed since her American Idol coronation, the original Idol proved she still owned the requisite chops to deliver a stirring rendition of the classic.

3. Beyoncé – 2004

In 2004, NFL organizers offered Beyoncé this choice for a Super Bowl performance in her native Houston: halftime show or national anthem. She elected to fulfill a childhood dream, and chose the anthem - a smart move. Some six months after her debut solo album Dangerously In Love dropped, the soon-to-be Queen Bey proclaimed herself a bonafide solo star. And, to be fair, Beyonce claimed both musical spotlights eventually: eight years after performing the national anthem, Bey hit the stage for a high-octane halftime show.

2. Jennifer Hudson – 2009

Jennifer Hudson sighed heavily as the first notes filled the stadium, and proceeded to blow the crowd away. The Oscar winner’s take -- backed by a lush orchestra -- continually improves on itself, growing from its opening faintness to the final knockout notes courtesy of Hudson’s trademark powerhouse vocals. For viewers at the time, the diva's deliver of the lyrics, which champion endurance and resolve, evoked a touching personal significance to this career milestone: Hudson’s appearance marked her first public engagement since the murders of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew the previous October.

1. Whitney Houston – 1991

Who else? Whitney, at the peak of her vocal powers, roared through a rousing rendition in 1991 that is widely considered the gold standard. The superstar's stentorian rendition suited the wave of patriotism flooding the United States at the height of the Persian Gulf War, and public demand for the rendition led Arista Records to release the recording as a commercial single. It subsequently burst onto the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately peaking at No. 20. Yet, the performance remained such a pop culture staple that Houston’s interpretation later climbed into the top 10 -- peaking at No. 6 -- following its reissue after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.