NE-YO to Sing the National Anthem Before World Series Game 4 as the Rays Fight for Survival
Three-time Grammy winner NE-YO will sing the national anthem before Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night, as the Tampa Bay Rays fight to stay alive against the Milwaukee Brewers at Tropicana Field.
A do-or-die night in Tampa
USA TODAY reported that NE-YO will sing the anthem as part of the Game 4 pregame festivities. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday 27 October at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Tampa Bay trails three games to none after Milwaukee won Game 3 by 10-1 on Monday night, USA TODAY reported. No team has ever come back from 3-0 down to win a World Series, so Tuesday is a must-win night for the home side.
Former Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, FOX 13 reported, following former Rays manager Joe Maddon, who handled the same honour before Game 3.
Who is NE-YO?
NE-YO first gained national recognition as the songwriter behind Mario’s 2004 hit “Let Me Love You,” USA TODAY reported, which led to his own Def Jam recording contract in 2005. His 2006 debut album, “In My Own Words,” featured his first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, “So Sick,” and went platinum.
USA TODAY noted he recently won season 10 of “The Masked Singer” as “Cow.”
In 2025 he released the single “Simple Things” and made his Broadway debut in Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen,” USA TODAY reported, followed in 2026 by the album “Highway 79,” his first album in four years.
Why the anthem moment matters
NE-YO follows Carly Pearce, who sang before Game 3, and Kylie Cantrall, who sang before Game 2, USA TODAY reported, giving the series another big live-television stage.
For Tampa Bay, win on Tuesday or the Brewers complete a sweep and claim the first championship in franchise history. For NE-YO, it is another major stage in a career built on big choruses.
Sources: USA TODAY, 27 October 2026; FOX 13 News, 27 October 2026.