One viral moment came out of Monday night’s Home Run Derby before the game even started.
Grammy-nominated artist Ingrid Andress sang the national anthem at the game, which took place Monday in Arlington, Texas, and her rendition is being called “one of the worst” by viewers across social media.
The 32-year-old sang the anthem a cappella at Globe Life Field and took liberties with certain notes throughout the song.
“My ears are bleeding,” one viewer wrote on X. “One of the worst national anthem renditions ever.”
“Well that was different,” wrote another.
“I’m so sorry, I’m sure Ingrid Andress is a wonderful person, but that was one of the worst national anthems I think I’ve ever heard in my whole life,” wrote X user Alex Carr.
Many on social media were quick to compare the rendition to singer Fergie’s performance of the national anthem at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. At the time, the singer received criticism far and wide for the performance, which had a slower, jazzier edge.
“Fergie watching Ingrid Andress claim her crown for worst anthem of all time,” one viewer tweeted Monday.
“With all due respect, and I mean this sincerely, this is the worst anthem I’ve ever heard. Fergie would’ve been an upgrade,” wrote another.
Andress is a singer-songwriter who has had a number of hit songs and two albums since her first hit single, “More Hearts Than Mine” hit No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2020. She’s received four Grammy nominations thus far in her career, most recently for her 2021 song “Wishful Drinking,” which she sang with Sam Hunt.
Her next single, “Colorado 9,” is being released July 24.