Social Media Destroys MLB Home Run Derby National Anthem Singer Ingrid Andress

Published|Updated

With no other major sporting events on the calendar for Monday night, Major League Baseball took center stage with its annual Home Run Derby.

For many fans, the Home Run Derby is the highlight of All-Star Weekend, ahead of the All-Star Game. 

This year's version takes place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, home of the Texas Rangers. 

Naturally, with the game set in the state of Texas, MLB invited a country music artist to sing the American National Anthem prior to the start of the Home Run Derby. 

The announcer introduced the performer: four-time Grammy-nominated country music singer Ingrid Andress. 

"Who?!" My wife and I said in unison following the announcement.

Ingrid Andress, a Grammy-nominated country singer, performed a horrendous rendition of the national anthem prior to the MLB Home Run Derby.

Ingrid Andress, a Grammy-nominated country singer, performed a horrendous rendition of the national anthem prior to the MLB Home Run Derby.

(Getty Images)

Personally, I'm more of a '90s country guy than a current country music fan, but hey, I appreciate the genre. 

I had high hopes for a national anthem in Texas by a Grammy-nominated country music singer. 

Alas, my hopes were quickly dashed. Andress delivered perhaps one of the worst national anthems I have ever heard in my entire life. My wife and I just kept looking at one another with our mouths wide open.

Both of us wondered the same thing, "Is this real?" Given that MLB invited a no-name Saturday Night Live cast member to introduce the contestants, maybe the bad jokes carried into the national anthem? 

No, it was real. And it probably won't help Andress' career aspirations. 

Woof. That was BRUTAL. It immediately conjured up images of the infamous Fergie rendition at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. 

There's really just one rule when it comes to singing the beautiful American National Anthem and both of these women broke it. 

YOU DON'T DO YOUR OWN VERSION OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM! 

If you want to cover any other song and make it your own, go for it. 

BUT NOT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. 

Social media users quickly whipped out their phones to voice their universally-negative opinions. 

As one user pointed out, America can easily unite thanks to this national anthem. 

We can ALL agree that it was terrible. 

Tags
Written by

Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.