Christopher Jackson falters on anthem at Mets opener

Christopher Jackson, the Broadway actor best known for originating the role of George Washington in the musical Hamilton, stumbled over the lyrics of "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the New York Mets' 2026 season opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field in Queens on March 26.

The performance aired live on Peacock as part of the nationally televised broadcast. Jackson delivered the first few lines smoothly but faltered in the third verse, repeating "What so proudly we hailed" from earlier in the song instead of singing "O'er the ramparts we watched." He paused briefly before recovering and continuing with "Were so gallantly streaming," completing the anthem without further errors to applause from the crowd of about 42,000.

Attendees at the stadium appeared unfazed by the slip, cheering Jackson through the final notes and shifting focus to the game ahead. The incident, however, quickly drew attention on social media, where users shared clips and offered mixed reactions. Some fans joked about the irony of a performer who portrayed the nation's first president forgetting words to a patriotic song. "Is it a good sign or bad one for the Mets that George Washington had...