O Canada lyrics, tonight’s singer, and why the Canadian anthem is in the spotlight

The Canadian national anthem took center stage again tonight as Noah Reid performed “O Canada” before World Series Game 7 at Rogers Centre in Toronto (Saturday, Nov. 2, 2025). The U.S. anthem was performed by Pia Toscano. With a championship on the line and a global audience watching, the pregame anthems doubled as a cultural moment—capping a series in which multiple artists have interpreted Canada’s anthem in notably different ways.

Who sang the Canadian national anthem tonight?

Noah Reid sang “O Canada” ahead of first pitch in Toronto. Reid—an acclaimed Canadian actor-singer—delivered a classic, stadium-ready rendition for the do-or-die finale. If you’re searching “who sang the Canadian national anthem tonight” or “who sang the national anthem at the Blue Jays game tonight,” that’s your answer for Game 7.

Recent World Series anthem timeline (Canadian & U.S.)

This year’s Series has featured a rotating cast of high-profile vocalists. Here’s a quick recap of the most discussed performances:

• Game 2 (Toronto): O Canada — Alessia Cara | U.S. anthem — Bebe Rexha

• Game 3 (Los Angeles): O Canada — JP Saxe | U.S. anthem — Brad Paisley

• Game 5 (Los Angeles): O Canada — Rufus Wainwright (bilingual lines) | U.S. anthem — Keith Williams Jr.

• Game 6 (Toronto): O Canada — W.O. David Grenon (Royal Canadian Air Force Band) | U.S. anthem — John Vincent

• Game 7 (Toronto, tonight): O Canada — Noah Reid | U.S. anthem — Pia Toscano

Note: Anthem lineups are sometimes adjusted close to game time; the above reflects the most recent event information.

Why “O Canada” is trending: lyric choices by JP Saxe and Rufus Wainwright

Two earlier performances sparked debate and drew heavy search interest:

• JP Saxe (Game 3): opened with “Our home on native land,” a phrasing increasingly used to acknowledge Indigenous peoples and treaties. Many fans praised the recognition; others argued the official wording should be preserved in major sporting events.

• Rufus Wainwright (Game 5): altered a later line—rendering it as “that only us command.” The change, subtle in sound but pointed in meaning, was interpreted by some as topical commentary. The choice prompted mixed reactions ranging from applause for artistic expression to criticism that national symbols should remain unchanged on such stages.

These moments underscore how a 145-year-old song can still be an arena for conversation about identity, inclusion, and nationhood.

O Canada lyrics: what’s official today?

The official English lyrics include the 2018 update making the anthem gender-inclusive. The most relevant lines for many searches are:

• Opening line (official): “O Canada! Our home and native land!”

• Inclusive line (since 2018): “True patriot love in all of us command.”

A few quick notes:

• The 2018 change replaced “in all thy sons command” with “in all of us command.”

• Performers at national events often blend English and French to reflect Canada’s linguistic duality.

• Beyond English and French, “O Canada” has been performed in Indigenous languages at major events, reinforcing its evolving, inclusive role.

If you’re looking for the full text, remember that many public versions circulate; for accuracy, check a current, official lyrics listing. In stadiums, the version most crowds recognize is the standard English verse with the 2018 wording, sometimes interwoven with French lines like “Ton histoire est une épopée / Des plus brillants exploits.”

Who is JP Saxe?

JP Saxe is a Toronto-born, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter best known for “If the World Was Ending” (with Julia Michaels). His songwriting leans intimate and conversational, which helps explain why his Game 3 interpretation—opening with “Our home on native land”—felt personal and intentional. The World Series spot introduced him to some viewers for the first time; for longtime fans, it was in character: thoughtful, contemporary, and willing to take a stance.

Rufus Wainwright and “O Canada”

Rufus Wainwright, a celebrated Canadian-American artist renowned for operatic pop and cabaret-influenced songwriting, took a more provocative turn at Game 5. By tweaking a single lyric, he reframed a familiar line and set off vigorous debate about whether a national anthem should be a fixed ritual or a living, interpretive performance. Whatever your view, his bilingual delivery and deliberate phrasing ensured people were listening closely.

Quick FAQ: your most-searched queries tonight

• “Who sang the Canadian anthem tonight?” — Noah Reid (Game 7, Toronto).

• “Who sang the national anthem at the Blue Jays game tonight?” — Canadian: Noah Reid; U.S.: Pia Toscano.

• “Rufus Wainwright O Canada” — Performed at Game 5 with a notable lyric alteration.

• “JP Saxe national anthem / JP Saxe Toronto” — Sang Game 3 in Los Angeles; opened with “Our home on native land.”

• “O Canada lyrics / Canadian anthem lyrics” — Use the 2018 “in all of us command” wording; some performers blend English and French.

As the final out approaches, the anthem conversation will likely continue—proof that a minute-long song can carry a century’s worth of meaning, and that every performance is, in its way, part of Canada’s ongoing story.