Singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress had the misfortune of joining the pantheon of all-time worst National Anthem performers during her rendition for the 2024 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby in Arlington on Monday.
With four Grammy nominations tucked in her belt, observers were flabbergasted, and unfortunately for her, the internet had its way.
“Just when I thought nothing could unite this country, America comes together to dunk on — and I say this as politely and objectively as possible — the worst national anthem performance of all time,” wrote someone with the X handle @ReeceKelleyG.
“Just heard the home run derby national anthem,” wrote @hswhitis11, posting a picture of former President Donald Trump in the immediate aftermath of his assassination attempt, blood streaming from his ear.
just heard the home run derby national anthem pic.twitter.com/LsUHRGNMWZ
— hayden whitis (@hswhitis11) July 16, 2024
Andress took to Instagram Tuesday afternoon to inform the public that she was drunk when she belted out the song and was going to check herself into rehab.
“That was not me last night. I apologize to MLB, all the fans, and this country I love so much for that rendition. I’ll let y’all know how rehab is. I hear it’s super fun,” she wrote.
Here’s some of what The Sporting News published on some of the worst National Anthem performances in American history:
Sports and music are intricately linked, particularly at the professional level. Highlight reels are often adorned with horns, drums, strings and anything else that will convince the masses to open up their wallets to watch their favorite athletes compete under the bright lights. Athletes routinely try their luck at crooning, hoping their ability on their respective playing surface translates to the music booth. More often than not, they fail miserably.
The two worlds are one, commingling with one another under the flash of camera bulbs. No phenomenon reflects this relationship more than when the national anthem is played at sporting events.
“The Star-Spangled Banner”, written by Francis Scott Key while witnessing the British Royal Navy shelling Baltimore’s Ft. McHenry during the War of 1812, elicits very different feelings depending on who is listening to the track.
Nevertheless, it remains part and parcel of American sporting culture. Every major American sporting contest begins with the gesture —in a 2015 report, Republican Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake revealed the Department of Defense spent $6.8 million to coax NFL, MLB, and other professional sports leagues to promote what they called “paid patriotism.” The practice was subsequently banned by the Pentagon in the years following the report’s release.
Either way you slice it, “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a part of American sporting lore. The pre-game performances of the ditty have underwent a lot of changes since its initial use — some believe the song was first incorporated into sports during the Civil War. Now, it’s a display of singing excellence, a platform for some of the world’s greatest vocalist to showcase their chops.
