ATLANTA – The 95th MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park will begin with a live tribute to Atlanta’s musical legacy, featuring hip-hop icons Ludacris and Jermaine Dupri, country star Kane Brown, and Southern rock group Zac Brown Band. The celebration will air live on FOX at 7 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, July 15, ahead of first pitch at 8 p.m.
JUST IN: The All-Star pregame performances have been revealed ⭐️
Two Atlanta hip-hop icons, Ludacris and Jermaine Dupri, country music all-stars Kane Brown and Zac Brown Band, as well as singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith will be performing at the All-Star Game next week pic.twitter.com/RwxvNN5i3A
— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2025
Jermaine Dupri and Ludacris will take the stage together to introduce the 2025 All-Star rosters with a medley that pays homage to Atlanta’s role in shaping popular music worldwide. They will be joined by Clark Atlanta University’s Mighty Marching Panthers and the Essence Dance Line, infusing the pregame show with the rhythm, choreography, and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
MLB described the segment as a hometown tribute rooted in the chart-topping careers and entrepreneurial drive of both artists.
Luda pulled up with the BIG ARMS for Ludacris Night in ATL 😅🙌
(via @mlb)pic.twitter.com/cLgnzGUlIe
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 4, 2024
Dupri’s work as a producer and founder of So So Def Recordings helped define the Southern rap sound of the 1990s, while Ludacris brought Atlanta’s voice to a global audience with 18 Billboard Top 10 hits and a crossover career in film.
MLB ASG 2025 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/jIMV8l8pkY
— Jermaine Dupri (@jermainedupri) July 4, 2025
Kane Brown will perform “Georgia on My Mind” in tribute to Ray Charles, adding a country voice to the pregame program. Brown, a Georgia native with 13 No. 1 singles, continues to break genre boundaries with his blend of country, pop, and R&B.
Kane Brown shows off the arm for the final out as the National League squad gets the win!
(MLB x @CoronaUSA) pic.twitter.com/wBA2mC4GCm
— MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2024
The U.S. National Anthem will be performed by the Zac Brown Band, known for their Southern-Fried sound and deep Atlanta ties. Canadian singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith will sing the Canadian National Anthem. With over 8 million TikTok followers and a breakout hit “Fingers Crossed,” Spencer Smith is among the rising international voices spotlighted this year.
Yes. The entire pregame ceremony, including every musical performance, will be televised live as part of FOX’s national coverage beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern. Additional broadcasts include FOX Deportes (Spanish), ESPN Radio, Rogers Sportsnet and TDA Sports in Canada, and global partners in more than 200 countries. MLB Network and MLB.com will also provide highlights and behind-the-scenes access throughout All-Star Week.
This year’s production is significantly more ambitious than recent All-Star Games. The pregame show features multiple live acts, a choreographed HBCU segment, and a coordinated player introduction soundtrack. It reflects MLB’s increased investment in cultural programming and its desire to embrace the identity of its host city.
The 2025 All-Star Game marks the first time the Midsummer Classic has returned to Atlanta since 2000. Events begin Friday with the HBCU Swingman Classic and continue with Saturday’s All-Star Futures Game and Celebrity Softball Game, followed by the MLB Draft on Sunday and Monday, and the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday night.
Ludacris returns to Truist Park for a full-circle moment after his ceremonial first pitch earlier this year. He and Dupri—both deeply associated with the city’s hip-hop rise—are set to lead a high-impact musical prelude aimed at connecting baseball, community, and Atlanta’s creative culture on a global stage.
For more coverage of MLB All-Star Week, visit WorldBaseball.com.
Rapper Ludacris poses after he throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
