Who is Tori Kelly? Meet the pop star and actress performing the national anthem before Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals. The original article was published on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News to your list of preferred sources by clicking here.
Just hours before Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, the league announced that singer and actress Tori Kelly will perform the national anthem.
Many fans are eager to learn who Kelly is and which of her works are her best. While she's best known for her gospel work, she also has experience in pop music and the big screen.
Here's a quick overview of who Kelly is, as well as some of her most famous songs and movies.
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Who is Tori Kelly?
According to the awards website, Tori Kelly is a three-time Grammy Award winner. She won for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella (Bridge Over Troubled Water) in 2025, Best Gospel Album (Hiding Place), and Best Gospel Performance/Song (Never Alone) in 2019. She has been nominated for the award six times throughout her career.
Kelly also starred in Sing and Sing 2, two films about animals who discover their singing talent. She plays Mina, an elephant who suffers from stage fright but learns not to let it stop her.
The artist also supported the Child Hunger Ends Here program, which raises awareness of childhood hunger in America. In 2013, she released the song "Fill A Heart," the proceeds of which went to the organization.
Kelly plans to perform the national anthem before Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3.
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What does Tori Kelly sing?
Kelly first made her presence known during season nine. American Idol . After the show brought her popularity, two years later she released her first mini-album called Handmade Songs .
Here are some of the artist's most popular hits as of June 2026, according to her Spotify page:
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«"I Was Made to Love You," 307 million streams.
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Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing, 129 million streams.
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The song "I Say A Lil Prayer" (featuring Pharrell Williams) has reached 70 million streams.
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«"There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" - 66 million streams.
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What films has Tori Kelly starred in?
Kelly is best known for her two roles in the film series «Sing» . IN films "Sing"« и «Sing 2» She voices Mina, the singing elephant.
According to Singh's Wikipedia page, Mina is best described as "a sweet, shy, and quiet teenage elephant with a remarkably beautiful singing voice." However, the character suffers from stage fright and must overcome it to succeed.
She also starred in the film Jerry and Marge Go Wild and the television shows Rugrats and The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo.
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Is Tori Kelly a Tottenham Hotspur fan?
Apparently, Kelly isn't a San Antonio basketball fan. She's originally from Canyon Lake, California. Patrick Wilson, drummer for Weezer, also lives in the city.
The closest basketball teams to her were either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Clippers. There is no public record of her supporting either franchise.