Who is Kels? Meet Pittsburgh native singing national anthem before Game 2 of 2026 NBA Finals

The stage is set for another high-intensity game in the 2026 NBA Finals on Friday night.

The Knicks will be looking to go up 2-0 on the road, while the Spurs are facing some pressure, seeking to respond from a tough Game 1 loss.

Singing the national anthem on the grand Game 2 stage will be Kels, who is from Pittsburgh but also appears to have some Texas ties.

Here's a rundown on who Kels is before Game 2 of the Finals.

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Who is Kels?

Kels is a 30-year-old singer and songwriter who is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is no newbie to a big sports stage — when the 2026 NFL Draft was recently held in Pittsburgh, Kels sang the national anthem in her home city.

Per the San Antonio News-Express, Kels has said her influences include Amy Winehouse and Jazmine Sullivan, and she is about to go on her "Dirty Blues Princess" tour, which is named after her upcoming EP.

Kels has been based out of Atlanta in recent years, per her website, and began to gain more interest when she went on a 52 show US Tour in 2023 independently with no management and no label. In May 2024, she opened for Andre 3000 at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, and she is actively working on her first EP and album.

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What does Kels sing?

Kels' most popular song on Spotify is titled "Gone," which over 4 million streams.

Other popular songs include "amphetamines," "We Tried" and "6ft Under."

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Is Kels a Spurs fan?

It's unknown if Kels have any direct Spurs ties, but at the very least, she has a connection to the San Antonio area.

After being announced as the Game 2 national anthem singer, she posted on social media that she lived in San Antonio as a baby, while her little brother was also born there.