For many artists, the journey to stardom is a marathon, not a sprint, and for Ocean side’s Ali Berke, 2024 proved to be a pivotal year in her career.
The 24-year-old singer-songwriter ended the year on a high note, singing the national anthem before the New York Giants-Indianapolis Colts game on Dec. 29 at MetLife Stadium, the largest venue in which Berke has performed.
“To be singing for an NFL team is the biggest deal to me,” she said last week. “The Giants were so accommodating and kind, which isn’t something you experience everywhere. It’s something I’ll cherish forever.”
Berke’s 2024 schedule included performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in major sports arenas including Madison Square Garden, before a Knicks game, Wrigley Field for the Cubs and Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, for the Reds. While she has enjoyed every moment, the Giants game now occupies a special place in her heart.
“It was my biggest venue yet, and being a lifelong New Yorker, getting to sing for local teams is always special,” Berke, a 2018 graduate of Oceanside High School, said. “Madison Square Garden was also incredible, because that’s a huge bucket-list item for me. The Knicks are a great team to sing for, and any time I get to sing for New York is always going to be special.”
“The Giants organization runs like clockwork,” Ali’s father and manager, Jack Berke, said of the preparations leading up to her latest performance. “Even the sound check at 9:45 a.m. was choreographed to perfection. They announced it just like the game: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the national anthem, performed by Ali Berke.’”
The Oceanside native, who’s also known as Ali the Anthem Girl, is on an ambitious quest to perform the anthem at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums, a journey that has garnered her significant attention and admiration. Thus far she has sung at 14 MLB stadiums, beginning at Citi Field before a Mets-Phillies game in 2017 and most recently performing before a Nationals-Phillies game in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28.
Her talent and growing recognition haven’t gone unnoticed by the media. Earlier last year, Berke was interviewed on the radio station WINS and appeared on WCBS-TV, WPIX-TV and WGN-TV.
“It was surreal,” she recalled. “To have media outlets reaching out and covering my journey was incredible. It felt like a domino effect — once one story was out, more followed.”
Berke has performed in at least one stadium or arena in all four major sports, and aims to complete her tour of MLB venues in the next few years. With football season winding down, she and her team — her father and her publicist, Nabeela Aysen — are turning their attention to basketball and baseball. Talks are underway with the Brooklyn Nets, and the Berkes hope to secure additional MLB opportunities this year.
“We’re aiming for 20 or more baseball performances this season,” Jack, a sports agent, said. “It’s ambitious, but we’re ready for it.”
His daughter’s visibility has also opened up opportunities beyond sports. In November, Ali performed at Z100’s Dunkin’ Lounge at the FM station’s studios in Manhattan, a step toward her ultimate goal of making a name for herself as a recording artist.
As she reflected on 2024, she acknowledged that it was easy to get lost in the fast pace of it all. “At times it felt like I hadn’t done enough,” she said. “But when I really sit back and think about it, I realize how much I’ve accomplished. Between the traveling, the media coverage and singing in front of thousands, it was an amazing year.”
Berke balances her musical career with a number of jobs including nanny, salad bar worker and birthday party assistant, but spends time in the Loft Sound Studio in Syosset at least once or twice a week. And while she remains focused on future anthem performances, she also plans to release original music and perform at other music venues and festivals.
“I’ve always wanted to share my stories through my songs,” she said. “This past year, the anthem performances took up a lot of my time, but now I want to focus on my original music and taking my career to the next level.”
“We’re gaining momentum,” Jack said. “This is just the beginning.”
Nonetheless, both father and daughter are candid about the challenges of making it in the music industry. “It’s like applying for a job,” Jack said. “You knock on doors, send your resume, and hope to get an interview. But once you’re in, it’s about proving you belong there.”
As Ali reflects on her journey, she is filled with gratitude for all that has happened so far. “This has been a year of growth, both personally and professionally,” she said. “I’m excited to see what 2025 has in store.”
Berke can be found on Instagram and TikTok, at Alitheanthemgirl and aliberkeofficial.