A viral moment emerged from Monday night’s Home Run Derby even before the game began.
Grammy-nominated artist Ingrid Andress performed the national anthem at the event on July 15 in Arlington, Texas, and her rendition has been labeled “one of the worst” by viewers on social media.
The 32-year-old singer performed the anthem a cappella at Globe Life Field, taking some creative liberties with several notes throughout the song.
“My ears are bleeding,” one viewer commented on X. “One of the worst national anthem renditions ever.”
“Well that was different,” another viewer remarked.
“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.
Social media users quickly compared Andress’s performance to Fergie’s controversial rendition of the national anthem at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, which had received widespread criticism for its slower, jazzier style.
“Fergie watching Ingrid Andress claim her crown for worst anthem of all time,” one viewer tweeted on 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 known for multiple hit songs and two albums since her debut single “More Hearts Than Mine” reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2020. She has received four Grammy nominations to date, most recently for her 2021 song “Wishful Drinking,” a collaboration with Sam Hunt. Her next single, “Colorado 9,” is set to release on July 24.