Kansas City Chiefs fans, followers of “America’s Got Talent” — and TikTok users — will recognize the three 20-somethings singing the national anthem for the Royals’ opening day on Monday.
The R&B group CitiLimitz made it all the way to the quarterfinals of “AGT” in season 20 last year after they earned their first fans through viral TikToks.
In October, the trio’s a cappella version of the national anthem in EverBank Stadium before the Chiefs played the Jacksonville Jaguars on “Monday Night Football” scored big points with viewers.
The group has become known for its tight harmonies and 90s R&B vibe.
“Ok Destiny’s Grandkids! FIRE VOCALS!!!!” one fan commented when ESPN posted the performance on TikTok.
Brothers A.T. and Marion Toran and their cousin Dre Young hail from a musical family in Chattanooga but are based in Atlanta now.
A.T. and Marion are twins.
The three, who have sung together all their lives, first went viral with their TikTok videos. People encouraged them to try out for “America’s Got Talent” or “American Idol,” so they decided to go for it, they told the Chattanooga Times Free Press last year.
They made it all the way to the “AGT” quarterfinals where they sang Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River.”
They’ve performed the national anthem at a couple of WNBA games in Atlanta but their “Monday Night Football” performance was their first in front of an NFL crowd.
They sang it again in front of another “MNF” crowd in December before the Atlanta Falcons played the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s been a bit of a rough week for some anthem singers across the league.
Christopher Jackson, who originated the role of George Washington in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” on Broadway, messed up a few words when he sang the song before the New York Mets’ opening day game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It cued up all the jokes about a founding father botching the anthem, a difficult song to sing under any circumstances.
“I’ve had the honor of singing the national anthem countless times in stadiums around the country … today it was for about five seconds … and one line got away from me,” Jackson told TMZ Sports.
“I’m human. But I won’t hesitate to step up to a mic and pay tribute to those that we honor with the anthem.”
In Los Angeles, Dodgers fans criticized the rendition by singer Keith Williams Jr., who has performed in Dodger Stadium before, including for the World Series.
The Royals’ opening day ceremonies at Kauffman Stadium Monday will include airmen from Whiteman Air Force Base holding a giant flag over the field and a flyover by A-10 “Warthog” jets out of Whiteman AFB.
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Lisa Gutierrez has been a reporter for The Kansas City Star since 2000. She learned journalism at the University of Kansas, her alma mater. She writes about pop culture, local celebrities, trends and life in the metro through its people. Oh, and dogs. You can reach her at lgutierrez@kcstar.com or follow her on Twitter – @LisaGinKC.