But the trio was having trouble trying to find many that topped singing the Star-Spangled Banner at the 2023 Discover Winter Classic before the game between the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Fenway Park on Monday.
"This is a bucket-list item for us," said Ronnie DeVoe. "This is only the second time we had the opportunity to sing the national anthem, and it is the second time at Fenway Park.
"The first time we didn't have the pleasure of doing it with the infamous and incredible Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra."
The other time was in during a playoff run by the Boston Red Sox in 1986 when the three members were part of New Edition. They also performed a concert here, opening for New Kids on the Block during a sold-out show in 2021.
"This is in the top-three of the coolest things we've ever done," Ricky Bell said.
The trio, which started as founding members of New Edition, performed in center field, decked out in white jeans and white jackets, standing atop a black stage. They were backed by the orchestra, which played several songs before the game.
Fireworks were detonated throughout their performance and as the last note started to fade and the crowd noise built to a crescendo, a military jet flyover screamed overhead.
It was a perfect Boston moment for the R&B/hip hop band, whose members grew up not too far from Fenway Park and started out playing small shows in clubs throughout the area.
"I mean, this is our city," Bell said. "We're never going to stop embracing the city. I think the next step for us would probably be to play another show here with New Edition as the headliner and we will sell that out as well."
