Oh Say Can They Sing! Broadway's Best Perform The National Anthem

Ahead of Saturday's celebration of the birthday of America, BWW brings you some of our favorite renditions of "The Star Spangled Banner", performed by Broadway's best.

A brief history of The National Anthem:

The lyrics to the patriotic song come from "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written in 1814 by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Baltimore's Fort McHenry by British ships during the War of 1812.

The poem was originally set to the tune of a popular British song written by John Stafford Smith titled "To Anacreon in Heaven" (or "The Anacreontic Song"). Set to Key's poem and renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner", it quickly became a well-known American patriotic song. With a range of one octave and one fifth, it is known for being one of the most difficult songs to sing. While most Americans are only familiar with the poem's first stanza, it actually is comprised of four.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" was recognized for official use by the United States Navy in 1889, and by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, and was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931, signed by Herbert Hoover.

BWW wishes our readers a festive and safe Fourth of July celebration!

Broadway-bound Jennifer Hudson (THE COLOR PURPLE) performed 'The Star-Spangled Banner' for Super Bowl XLIII at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1st, 2009.

Cast members from the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys performed the National Anthem at the 138th WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW at Madison Square Garden on February 10, 2014

In October of 2012, Tony winner and 'Younger' star Sutton Foster sang the National Anthem at a New York Yankees game.

In June of 2013, Adam Lambert opened the festivities of BROADWAY BARES 23: UNITED STRIPS OF AMERICA with his performance of the patriotic tune

Broadway's Idina Menzel performed the Anthem (and gave a pre-game concert!) at the Major League Baseball's All-Star Game in Minneapolis, Minnesota in July of 2014.

ANNIE and INTO THE WOODS star Lilla Crawford sang The Star Spangled Banner at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium before the Giants game on November 25, 2012.

January 2012, Tony Award winner and Broadway favorite Kristin Chenoweth sang the National Anthem at the NFC Championship game between the Giants and 49ers.

Harry Connick Jr. performed the song prior to Game 5 of 2013's World Series

In October 2013, Tony winner Lena Hall surprised the Lehigh Valley IronPigs with all four verses of the Star-Spangled Banner.