She could have sang this with the “Whitney approach” just as many singers would, but Mariah truly made this her own. Soft and silky start, gradual crescendo, signature whistle ending with that glorious belt finale. THIS is why Mariah shines from the rest.

"Oh the laaaaaaaaaaaaand of the-" " *FR* 🐦"

Whitney's for war times, Mariah’s for peace time.

That voice is 1 in a billion

She's a smart singer, truly a legend. She chose notes with precision and her tone is just soooooooooo angelic.

The way she says Brave at the end sounds like a Disney Princess lmfao

Just saw Fergie's "performance" and landed here What a contrast!

*Did you know that they played a game of football during Mariah's concert?*

The ending gets me every time. Such a beautiful ending.

No one can touch this quality. Her voice is very colorful Soft and powerful at the same time. We don’t just talk about high notes only, but also low tone, belting, whistle, pronunciation, techique,...

This version of the Star-Spangled Banner has more octaves than any other.. Nice!

I remember seeing this live in 2002. For those who don't know or didn't see it live, this was one of the first major performances of The Star Spangled Banner after 9/11 so it was extra special.

That final note 🤯

Wow, the conductor of the orchestra turned around to face her and applauded her at the very end! That’s respect!

Celine sing before WAR ❤️ Whitney sing during WAR 💚 Mariah sing after WAR ❤️

It's amazing how she hits that high B like that. It's next to the highest B on the keyboard on the piano. That is amazing that she can do that. She's singing in B Major . Which is five sharps.

I sang this song in front of a crowd and my mom showed me this video for inspiration and I succeeded that evening. Years later, here I am today, performing again this evening, in front of an audience, in the same stage with the same song, and watching the same video my mom showed me those years ago. Mariah Carey will always be an inspiration for me and my mother. Wish me luck!! Edit: (A year later) *I'm alive* ok no lol in all seriousness it went great! After years of self-taught experience, I reflect on it now and I can say that I still do have a lot to improve on, but overall it went really good!

Even that whistle has a soul..

Her voice sounded so gorgeous and angelic here. I literally teared up listening to this 😭😭😭 (And her smile 🥹)

Best ending version in my opinion.

shes definitely a perfectionist. you can tell by her delivery.

1:34 WOW, I love it when her voice starts SOARING!! I love her voice! Hers and Whitney’s are the top 2 performances EVER of our national anthem!

fergie left the group😂

Mariah is the greatest vocalist of all time...she was the voice of two complete decades...Legend= Mariah Carey

THAT WHISTLE NOTE. PERIOD

Mariah did that ... she did that !

She made that song HERS. Unique and one of a kind indeed.

I love how the Maestro at 2:37 is so surprised that she's still going he has to turn around and look at her!

The way she said brave in the end was phenomenal and extremely unique

Mariah's somber yet uplifting rendition was appropriate just like Whitney's bombastic rendition was appropriate when she performed it. Both gave amazing performances of the song that have to be contextualized to be fully appreciated.

Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. The best National Anthem rendition of all time

The highest note ever recorded in history! The queen of breaking the records!

"Mariah Carey lost her voice in 1997" NOT 😍

why does it seem like she's singing a Christmas song to me? Queen of Christmas 👸🎄

What’s incredible is that Mariah is singing just MONTHS after 9/11 at the biggest event in America. Whitney sang DAYS after the US declared war (Gulf War). They needed the biggest stars to calm America’s nerves. And they delivered!

Geeesh just goosebumps. She’s the best singer to me. The best to do it.

Ok I'm feeling soooooo patriotic rn and I'm not even an American

Wow Mariah 🔥 🔥 1st time seeing & hearing this from her!!!! That high note in the middle & her ending was priceless!!! Whitney & Mariah are incomparable 🎤 🎤

Mariah made it her own! More angelic and her signature voice cracks made this performance that much better

i think this version was especially meaningful because it was only like 6 months after 9/11...

This is the most peaceful and most distinct rendition of the USA 🇺🇸 anthem 😍😍💯💯💯 absolutely unique!

Did she ever voice a Disney character?? Cause she should

Omg I can’t help but to smile at that amazing smile 😩😩😩😩😍 Mariah Carey is a legend 😭😭😭

Mariah Carey is the only person who sings and i don't wanna hear another soul sing at the same time...not even myself...absolute calmness to hear her out...whoa!

Mariah and Whitney’s renditions are the only ones I need tbh

I love this rendition of the national anthem. It's my absolute favorite ❤. The low and high notes give me chills. The arrangement is perfect. When Mariah hits the high note on "Free" it feels like a bird is soaring across the sky and the last note is just grandiose-bigger than the whole orchestra behind her.

1:40 this part literally gave me chills omg-

Who else watch this after watching Lady Gaga sang at Biden’s inauguration

This is the Mariah everyone wants to be.

When I hear her voice, I hear a white person singing, but I also hear a black person singing, I hear the hope of a child, I hear the maturity of a woman...it's insane - like this one human vessel holding all this musical color and texture.

2:14 - 2:18 WOW! Whistle Tone and some runs/riffs too!

I love the ending, insanely talented. Plus the way the camera picks up the lights and the flashing cameras in the crowd, kind of unworldly like it’s from a dream.

The last part is beyond beautiful

she made me tear up with that performance. she literally is a child touched by God.

Perfection..And the angels kissed my soul, when i saw this live in german TV at midnight in 2002...Mimi for ever.

2:14 I get goosebumps everytime

This has got to be one of the best renditions of the star spangled banner ever. Definitely should be mentioned in that videos that talk about the top ten

Fergie tried doing this and whitney at the same time but she ended up sounding like me stubbing my own toe ,,,,, mariah and whitney are amazing

The arrangement of this version of the song is really a National Anthem arrangement. It lifts up the spirit of the people in attendance, unlike all other versions which are not that passionate enough or are basically just a SCREAMfest. Sorry not sorry.

The. Best. Ever.

Rumor has it thay After this performance the flag now salutes her. Goooood laaawwd

Remember when Mariah reinvented the National Anthem

2:11 thank me later 😙!

This was so unique & generous for her to do, to host a football game at her own concert!

So classy, no one could sing it better

so far she's the only singer with airy/breathy whistle tones, for me. 🙌

There’s no other voice can compare

I am so thankful for this performance. Her voice is angelic.

Somebody said this and I think it was so true, that Whitneys version is the one we listen to before we go into war, mariahs is the version we hear when we've won and we return.

She sang it her way and that’s a VERY beautiful way ❤

Most heartfelt version 🥺❤️

Still gives me chills and teary eyes… rumors has it that no one found their edges up to this day,…oh just forget about it!

This was breathtakingly gorgeous!

I’m reading a lot of comments about Mariah’s version being for a time of peace. I respectfully disagree. As many have pointed out, this was only a few months after 9/11. Those of us who were around for that time remember how even at these sporting events, many people were still grieving what had happened. So in my opinion, this version is meant for a time of grief. Regardless, Mariah NAILED this

IMO, hands down the best National Anthem performance!

Who’s here upto this year (2021)? She’s really the best vocals of all time. I can play this 100 times over and over again.

One of the best voices ever.

I don't know why but she made it sound like a Christmas song and I'm here for it! :)

If the Heaven’s above had one voice, it would be Mariah Carey

“(Not Fergie)” 🤣🤣🤣

Best one I ever heard in my life

She's perfect. And I love her. You go Mariah!!

At first i was convinced that this was lip sync but at some parts she added some vocal breaks which distinguished this from the recording

one of the best

This is absolutely beautiful! What a voice! This is in my top 2 favorite performances of this song EVER!

By far the best version of the National Athem I’ve ever heard. Chit sent chill through my body!❤️

My absolute favorite performance of all time. Although I get choked up every time I hear Whitney's epic performance from the welcome back heros concert as I was a proud member of the United States Marine Corp in 1991. These two ladies will forever be part of the heartbeat to hat makes up our great Nation!

AND THE GOOSEBUMPS CONTINUE ...

This is so addicting to watch and listen! She owned this!

Beautifully sung by Mariah Carey!

Every time i hear Mariah i'm always amazed not only her high notes but also her agility and her control to create such a beautiful sound. There are many singers out there can hit higher than she can but no one can hit beautifully and wisely and so control, soft, powerful like she did. You can hit higher doesn't mean you are better. For me, Mariah's life could be not good in many people's eyes but in music, she is one of the best vocalist ever in the World and there will be no one can sing like her anymore. Appreciate Mariah because she deserved it. Sr my english is not good 🤧 Have a good day

the arrangement is the hell yes!!! no one can beat mariah and whitney version for the National anthem. that's why they deserve to call DIVA.

In the end of the part "brave" i think like she's appearing her wings

Mariah and Whitney are the only 2 that sang this great. 2 strong voices, and that signature whistle is so awesome!

Why did I cry? Because that voice is just phew 😮‍💨 unparalleled, unmatched, angelic, a God given talent!

I knew MARIAH wouldn't let me down. 😎👍👍❤️

O 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 streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

Incredible voice, I love you Mimi

The ending when she said the brave, it broke me in tears Dont forget this was a year after 9/11

Live with an Orchestra ...doesn't get any more raw than that 💚