GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is brimming with holiday cheer tonight as the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos for a pivotal Christmas matchup fueled by “Month of Mischief” festivities.
Who is the National Anthem Singer at the Chiefs-Broncos Christmas Game?
The spotlight will briefly shift from the AFC West rivalry to the pregame ceremony, setting the tone at Arrowhead Stadium. With players sporting holiday-themed patches featuring candy canes and the NFL shield, the festive atmosphere will be in full swing before kickoff.
Thursday night’s national anthem will be performed by actress, singer, and songwriter Brianna Yancey alongside Mikaela Ayira, a Season 26 contestant on The Voice who competed as part of Team Snoop. The Leawood Police Department Honor Guard will present the colors as the duo takes center stage.
Ayira gained national attention during The Voice in late 2024, advancing to the Knockouts, while the pair previously went viral for their powerful rendition of the anthem at their high school graduation. That performance helped introduce them to a wider audience and cemented their reputation as a standout vocal duo.
Both Yancey and Ayira are based in Johns Creek, Georgia, and have collaborated on several high-profile and civic performances in recent years, like during the 2023 Johns Creek State of the City Address.
From local city events to now, the NFL’s Christmas Day stage, their return to the national anthem spotlight marks another proud moment for their hometown as they perform in front of a national audience.
Chiefs-Broncos Preview
Christmas night at Arrowhead comes with real stakes for Denver and real survival mode for Kansas City. The Broncos (12-3) can clinch the AFC West with a win and a Chargers loss or tie, flipping the usual script in this rivalry. Kansas City (6-9), meanwhile, is limping in with injuries everywhere and third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun making his first career start. As Bo Nix put it, “You just have to keep winning…now it’s just who has more points.”
Denver already beat Kansas City once, 22-19 in November, but enters off a humbling 34-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that snapped an 11-game streak. Sean Payton called this stretch “significant with two games left,” noting both teams may have unused wrinkles on a short week. The matchup also highlights Denver’s strength: defense.
Per PFSN’s Impact Metrics, the Broncos rank second defensively, compared to the Chiefs at 10th, while the offenses are nearly even (Chiefs 11th, Broncos 12th).
Kansas City’s challenge is steep. Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew are out, top tackles and cornerbacks are sidelined, and Steve Spagnuolo admitted slowing Courtland Sutton is “a tough ask” without Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Still, the Chiefs insist effort won’t waver. “Any time you step into Arrowhead it’s fun,” Chris Jones said.
