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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Aguilera kicks off NBA All-Star Game with Nas, Rockettes

Christina Aguilera performs before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Christina Aguilera performs before the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK (AP) – Christina Aguilera was in a New York state of mind.

The pop singer kicked off the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday with a New York-themed performance at Madison Square Garden. The big-voiced star sang classics including Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” Stevie Wonder’s “Livin’ In the City” and Jay Z’s “Empire State of Mind.”

The Rockettes backed Aguilera, who rocked all-black and danced with a crane as a prop. Rapper Nas, who is from Queens, came out to perform his own New York anthem, “N.Y. State of Mind.”

Queen Latifah, backed by two guitars, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and Grammy-nominated R&B vocalist Tamia, who is married to Grant Hill, sang the Canadian National Anthem.

Ariana Grande will headline the halftime show.