“Just Five Naked Voices — But the Entire 140-Year-Old Racecourse Falls Silent.” At the 144th Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Pentatonix stepped out before tens of thousands of spectators and millions of live television viewers, singing the American national anthem a cappella just before the Run for the Roses. From the first note, the vast space of Churchill Downs seemed to freeze as five a cappella voices filled the stage with rare precision and emotion. This moment, lasting less than two minutes, quickly went viral on social media, garnering millions of views and shares in a short time. With three Grammy Awards and over a decade at the forefront of modern a cappella music, Pentatonix transformed a familiar ritual into an unforgettable, sacred experience. This wasn’t simply an opening act for a prestigious 140-year-old horse race — it was a musical moment that made the Kentucky Derby known in a completely different light.

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Pentatonix Sing National Anthem at Kentucky Derby: Watch

Pentatonix enjoyed a major honor Saturday (May 5) when they sang the national anthem at the 144th Kentucky Derby in Louisville.Pentatonix

Matt Sallee, Kirstin Maldonado, Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, and Kevin Olusola of Pentatonix perform the National Anthem during Kentucky Derby 144 on May 5, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Chruchill Downs

Pentatonix enjoyed a major honor Saturday (May 5) when they sang the national anthem at the 144th Kentucky Derby in Louisville.

The three-time Grammy-winning a cappella group — Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and new bassist Matt Sallee — was broadcast live, performing onstage before the Run for the Roses. Watch the video below.

INTERVIEW - Pentatonix on singing the National Anthem at The 144th... Stock Footage Video - Getty Images

Olusola told Billboard back in April that the event has a special significance for him because he was born and raised in Owensboro, Kentucky.

“I love the Derby, it’s been a huge part of growing up for me,” he shared. “When I was a fourth-grader, in my class, we made this thing called Derby Pie, which to this day is still my favorite pie that I have ever had in my life.”

Pentatonix released PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol 1, in April, and will embark on a 39-date North American tour in July.