Former American Idol contestant Ayla Brown will be singing the national anthem at the Wareham Gatemen home game against the Hyannis Harbor Hawks on Thursday, July 12 at 7 p.m. at Spillane Field..

Spectators are encouraged to come early and grab a seat to hear the 23-year-old star singer perform.

Brown was a semi-finalist in the 2005-2006 American Idol season after making it through the tryouts of 135,000 potential contestants.

Brown is also the official anthem singer for the Philadelphia 76ers and sings at every home game for the team.

She has performed the national anthem several times for the Boston Celtics, the Boston Red Sox, and the NCAA women's basketball league.

She has also sang the anthem at many prestigious events, including the 33rd Annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on July 4, 2006 and at the Let Freedom Sing concert performed alongside with the Grammy-award winning Nashville Symphony Orchestra on July 4, 2010.

Brown followed her 2006 American Idol performance by releasing her first studio album, Forward, on October 17, 2006. Forward was also released to adult contemporary radio in April 2007, where it peaked at Number 10 on the format's FMQB airplay chart and Number 34 on the format's Mediabase airplay chart.

In December of 2012, Brown completed her first country album, Goodbye for Good, which stood at #1 on CDbaby.com's country rock, country pop, and overall country charts.

Brown also pursued a basketball career and played for the Division I Boston College Eagles while in college.