ARLINGTON, Texas — We've all heard cover versions of legendary songs that just don't hit the right note.
But Monday night, an ear-splitting rendition of America's song had folks scrambling for remotes to mute their TVs, or at least turn the volume down to an inauditory level.
Country singer and four-time Grammy nominee Ingrid Andress was tapped to perform the National Anthem before the MLB All-Star Week Home Run Derby. To say that her take on the oft-sung song was - unconventional - might be understating things a bit. The pace was undeniably herky-jerky, comparable to a new driver using a manual transmission for the first time.
And when Andress got to "the rocket's red glare...." her voice was so off-key that players taking part in the derby could be seen wincing, or in the case of Phillies infielder Alec Bohm, trying not to laugh.
On Tuesday, Andress posted an explanation on X, saying she was drunk during her high-profile performance, and is checking into a facility "to get the help I need."
"That was not me last night," the singer-songwriter said in her post. "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."
MLB is not commenting on the anthem flap, spokesperson Matt Bourne said.
As the anthem unmistakably states, America is the "land of the free," and before her explanation post social media users across the country took the liberty to roast Andress's take on the pre-competition classic on every platform that exists.
"My ears are bleeding," a poster named Michael Schwab said.
"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," said a post by Reece Kelley on X (Twitter).
X user Scott Berlin did his best impression of an ambulance-chasing attorney in a TV commercial, suggesting that anyone who sat through Andress's anthem might be entitled to compensatory damages.
Others were a touch more diplomatic, suggesting the sound system may have been to blame for the "pitch smear," or simply offering sympathy for the singer.
"Poor girl," one wrote.
To be fair, there have been many less-than-stellar performances of the National Anthem - remember Roseanne Barr's screeching take at a San Diego Padres game in 1990, or Fergie's 2018 NBA All-Star bomb, considered by some to be the worst of all time... until Monday.
Noted showman and huckster P. T. Barnum once famously said "There's no such thing as bad publicity" and if that truly is the case, all the anthem-related internet buzz may eventually fuel something a bit more positive for Ms. Andress.
