The Baltimore Ravens’ home playoff clash with their storied rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, was destined to be a spectacle, and this matchup added a fresh chapter to their illustrious history. Hosting the six-time Super Bowl titlists in the postseason for the first time on their home turf, Baltimore rolled out the red carpet to ensure the evening was one for the record books. To kick things off with a flourish, the Ravens brought in Baltimore’s own Samantha Pollino to perform The Star-Spangled Banner.

Pollino, a Broadway sensation with deep roots in the Charm City, has a resume that reads like a who’s who of celebrated productions. An alum of the Baltimore School for the Arts, she has graced the stages of Tony Award-winning shows and hit TV series. This time, however, her stage was the M&T Bank Stadium, and she was more than ready for the spotlight, sharing her excitement on X before the performance.

And what a performance it was. With the elegance and vocal chops you’d expect from a Broadway star, Pollino delivered a rendition of the national anthem that resonated with fans both in the stadium and watching from afar. Her flawless rendition drew praise from fans and critics alike on social media, celebrating her powerful delivery and setting a high bar for future performances.

A vocal admirer tweeted, “Samantha Pollino can sing the National Anthem anytime, anywhere,” while another fan highlighted the impact of her performance, exclaiming how her delivery of the anthem sent chills down their spine. Even those unfamiliar with her Broadway accolades found themselves captivated, acknowledging Pollino’s performance as a masterclass in how the anthem should be sung.

Indeed, nothing quite matches the atmosphere when the national anthem is rendered with such passion, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown like the Ravens vs. Steelers.

Fans were primed and ready for the game, with the electric anthem performance adding an extra layer of anticipation to an already charged playoff contest. For those tuning in on Amazon Prime Video, it was an unforgettable start to what promised to be an intense clash on the gridiron.