A pop singer from Long Island with a big dream and an even bigger voice: Ali Berke sat down with EssentiallySports for an exclusive interview, sharing her remarkable journey as “Ali the Anthem Girl.” She lives and breathes what the national anthem represents: “unity, pride, and gratitude.” During the interview, Berke took us through her music journey in detail. And how it all began.

“The ‘Anthem Girl’ journey started when I sang at Citi Field at just sixteen,” Berke told EssentiallySports. “I remember walking out onto that field and feeling 20,000 eyes on me. It was surreal.”

What she didn’t know then was that this moment would ignite a journey unlike any other. 

“My dad and I were talking one day about how I would be one of the first to have ever sung the anthem at all 30 Major League ballparks, and we thought, why not me? That moment at Fenway Park really kicked it off. It felt like the start of something bigger, and from there, we just kept going. It started as a simple ‘what if’ conversation with my dad, and now it has become a huge part of my life,” she added.

Music has been in her blood since childhood. At 3, she started doing karaoke with her dad, Jack Berke. Her journey took a serious turn at 13, when she independently sought out a recording studio to start making music. From there, the Hannah Montana life that Berke always dreamt of living came true. 

Despite juggling work in the medical field for a time, she quit her job to focus fully on music, driven by her growing success and love for her craft. Now, the 24-year-old singer is diligently ticking off her checklist to achieve her goal. Yet, she revealed that a few stadiums she holds dear. 

“I keep a list and track each one I cross off,” she said during the EssentiallySports FanCast. “I’ve done 20 so far, and I’d love to hit Yankee Stadium and Fenway again. Fenway has a special place in my heart because that’s where this whole dream started.”

Although Ali’s anthem reputation leans heavily on her baseball performances, her upcoming NFL debut at Highmark Stadium for the Buffalo Bills against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11 is something entirely different for her.

“It means everything,” she told EssentiallySports. “I’m a huge Bills fan, so to perform on their home turf for a big game like this is truly a dream come true. It combines two things I love, sports and performing, and to be able to represent my favorite team in that way feels really special. It’s one of those full-circle moments I’ll never forget.”

As a member of Bills Mafia herself, Berke is most excited about the adrenaline-charged energy of Bills fans at Highmark Stadium.

“Bills fans are next level. There’s so much heart and passion in that stadium. I can’t wait to feel that energy from the field.” 

She also hopes to catch a quick moment with her favorite player, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. “He’s my favorite player, and he just seems like such a down-to-earth guy. It would be amazing to get a quick moment to say hi and thank him for inspiring so many fans,” she said in the EssentiallySports exclusive.

Ali Berke on paychecks and NFL fandom

Berke openly shared with us that performing the anthem isn’t just about the paycheck; for her, the true reward is the feeling she gets from singing it.

“There’s usually some compensation,” Berke said during the exclusive interview with EssentiallySports. “For me, it’s really about the honor and the visibility. Not everyone gets to stand in front of thousands of people and sing something so meaningful. I do it because I love it. It’s truly an honor every time.”

Regarding her NFL fandom, Berke is all in. The Bills’ games take over her life now, but this wasn’t the case earlier.

“I wasn’t really into sports growing up,” she revealed in the EssentiallySports FanCast. “But that’s changed a lot. These days, I’m all about the Buffalo Bills, and Josh Allen is definitely my favorite player.

I’ve become a huge NFL fan, or more specifically, a Buffalo Bills fan. That’s my team through and through. They honestly dictate my mood for the week. My neighbors can always tell when I’m watching because I’m usually yelling at the TV in excitement or frustration.”

Berke’s story blends talent, determination, and heart. She’s more than “Ali the Anthem Girl,” a nickname her dad came up with. As she told EssentiallySports, Ali’s anthem journey is a sideline goal in her broader music career, with dreams of one day performing at the Super Bowl. For now, she’s busy making memorable moments, one anthem at a time.