Oh, say, can she sing! A blind teenage girl, Marlana VanHoose, sang the national anthem before Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday, June 16, inspiring the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Golden State Warriors, and the millions of people watching the live broadcast from around the world.
VanHoose, 19, a Kentucky native who suffers from cerebral palsy, was born with Cytomegalovirus. Several weeks after her birth, doctors confirmed that she was also blind. While VanHoose was not expected to survive past the age of 12 months, her story has defied the boundaries projected by medical experts.
WATCH Marlana VanHoose move everyone at @TheQArena with another fantastic National Anthem performance. #ALLinCLE https://t.co/44913edose
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 17, 2015
On Wednesday, before a roaring crowd at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, which included NBA superstars like Steph Curry and LeBron James, VanHoose took to center court in a Cavs jersey, jeans, and shades as she gripped her microphone.
With her booming big voice and innate talent, the teen hit the notes and had the crowd roaring in the final five seconds of the "Star-Spangled Banner."
Though the Cavs ultimately lost, the moment was one of the most memorable of the evening.
Watch her heartwarming performance above!
