Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

MLB, Please Let Stevie Wonder Perform The National Anthem On Harmonica At World Series

stevie.jpg
Wonder onstage at the ASCAP 'I Create Music' Expo in Los Angeles, 2017. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for ASCAP)
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

It's an exciting time for the Los Angeles Dodgers, between that NL pennant win and turning Pink's Hot Dogs blue. Now, Stevie Wonder has made the team an offer they can't refuse, telling TMZ Sports that he's willing to serenade the Dodgers with a harmonica rendition of the national anthem as they play in the World Series this week.

When asked by a TMZ reporter if he'd be willing to sing the national anthem, Wonder responded, "You know, I love the song...and I love playing it on the harmonica." The TMZ reporter pressed Wonder—who knelt at a recent concert to show support for NFL players protesting during the national anthem —to answer whether he'd sing the anthem at the World Series while taking a knee. In response, the 67-year-old music legend paused and responded, "You know what I would do. You know me."

Sure, a TMZ interview isn't exactly a formal promise to appear, but we can only hope the Dodgers will hit Wonder up to make his harmonica rendition of the national anthem a reality. Even if the Dodgers lose (god forbid), Wonder's appearance at Dodger Stadium would certainly make that four-figure ticket price a little more worth it.

Support for LAist comes from

If nothing else, Wonder on harmonica could help erase the painful memory of that time Flea performed the national anthem on bass at the Staples Center:

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist