Country Star’s National Anthem Performance Draws Controversy

American singer and songwriter Ingrid Andress kicked off the MLB ’s 2024 Home Run Derby in memorable fashion, offering a version of the National Anthem that will certainly be unforgettable.

Andress took the stage at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, after Saturday Night Live ’s Marcello Hernández gave a spirited introduction of the game’s contestants. Anderson is a four-time Grammy-nominated country musician whose songs “More Hearts Than Mine” and “Wishful Drinking” have entered Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

However, Andress’ performance on Monday was stunning for all of the wrong reasons.

Viewers were quick to pounce on the singular performance. “William Hung could’ve sung that better,” a comment on X (formerly Twitter) read.

Many were in disbelief that the performance came from an actual professional singer. “Is this like a make a wish thing or something?” one person asked. Another posited that Andress’ peformance was that of someone “who had a full bottle of chardonnay at the Taylor Swift show and then hit the karaoke bar after” rather than one of Swift’s fellow Grammy nominees.

Many people compared Andress’ National Anthem performance to the widely criticized version Roseanne Barr sang at a 1990 San Diego Padres game, before grabbing her crotch and spitting on home plate. The distinction between the two sets is that Barr’s was designed solely to provoke the crowd, while Andress seemed to be making a genuine effort to please.

Andress has yet to publicly respond to the controversy surrounding her performance.