“Country singer completely butchers the US national anthem at MLB Home Run Derby”

Country singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress gave a performance of the American national anthem at Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby that left players and fans alike in disbelief. The four-time Grammy Award nominee completely butchered the “Star Spangled Banner” with a rendition that was out of tune and devoid of any irony.

Players such as Phillies star Alec Bohm struggled to contain their chuckles as Andress’s screeching anthem filled Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Social media was abuzz with harsh criticism, with one popular baseball analyst comparing the anthem to a local In Memoriam ceremony and another stating that there would be lots of bombs at the Home Run Derby, with the first being the anthem itself.

The disastrous performance has already garnered tens of thousands of likes and sparked comparisons to other famously bad anthem renditions, such as Roseanne Barr’s 1990 rendition and Fergie’s ear-splitting attempt at the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend.

Despite the fallout from Andress’s performance, the Home Run Derby went on as scheduled, with MLB’s biggest hitters trying to hit as many home runs as possible in three minutes. The event serves as a precursor to the MLB All-Star Game and was the stage for Australia’s Travis Bazzana making history as the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft.