Ingrid Andress’ National Anthem at the MLB Home Run Derby struck out with fans on social media, drawing comparisons to Fergie's infamous 2018 rendition and leaving Phillies player Alec Bohm smirking on the field.

Performing at Globe Life Field on July 15, 2024, Andress, a Billboard-charting country singer, tried to hit a high note but ended up with an out-of-pitch rendition that drew widespread criticism and unfriendly comparisons to Fergie's 2018 debacle. Onlookers, including Phillies player Alec Bohm, couldn’t help but smirk during the off-key spectacle, leading social media to declare it one of the worst performances in recent memory. Even as country duo Brothers Osborne hinted at technical issues, the damage—much like a pop fly—was already done.

Ingrid Andress is no stranger to the spotlight. As a 32-year-old country singer with hits like 'Wishful Drinking' and 'More Hearts Than Mine' making it onto the Billboard Hot 100, one would think that singing the National Anthem at the MLB Home Run Derby would be a breeze. Instead, her performance quickly became the main event for all the wrong reasons.

As Andress began her rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, viewers quickly flocked to social media to articulate their confusion and disappointment. Many compared her pitchy performance to Fergie’s widely panned National Anthem at the 2018 NBA All-Star game, with some even labeling it worse. One Twitter user quipped, 'Fergie must feel relieved; Ingrid Andress took the crown for worst anthem.'

During this cacophonous affair, Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm was caught on camera smirking—a reaction that quickly went viral. Fans seemed to appreciate Bohm’s candidness, though some wondered whether he might end up facing more curveballs from an irate Andress or the press.

Critics hastened to weigh in on the fiasco, with many declaring it one of the most off-pitch and cringeworthy renditions of the National Anthem ever. One renowned music critic likened it to 'a cat trying to sing while being given a bath,' a comparison that, although feline in essence, did not catapult Andress' career forward.

Andress, facing the brunt of this vocal battering, received a slight defense from country music duo Brothers Osborne. They suggested that there could have been technical issues with Andress’s monitors, potentially throwing off her pitch. 'Singling out technical difficulties doesn’t quite clear all the bases,' one observer mused, but it did add a layer of complexity to the narrative.

Every so often, a bad performance can offer fans a new perspective on an artist. While Andress’s rendition of the National Anthem might not be winning her any awards, she didn’t shy away from the spotlight entirely. Almost as if to show that she's still in the game, Andress reminded fans of her upcoming single 'Colorado 9,' slated for release on July 24. It seems that after this 'out of the park' moment, the singer is already looking toward her next at-bat.

This event, which should have been a home run for the young artist, instead become an unintentional comedy show, leaving viewers and critics alike with much to talk about. From Bohm’s barely contained amusement to the flurry of unforgiving memes that erupted online, Andress’s National Anthem performance became the leading story—eclipsing even the home runs that were supposed to headline the Derby.

One can't help but wonder how Andress herself felt about her sudden infamy. While she hasn’t released an official statement addressing the performance directly, the announcement of 'Colorado 9' indicates that she’s ready to move past the flub. Whether she’ll hit a high note with her new single remains to be seen, but if anything, it’s clear she’s got the resilience of a major-league player.

In the world of live performances, especially ones as scrutinized as the National Anthem, there is little room for error. Unfortunately for Andress, even the smallest hint of a problem can magnify under the 21st-century microscope known as social media. Yet, while an off-key anthem is certainly memorable, it doesn’t have to be the defining note of her career.

So, while Twitter users may continue to replay the unfortunate rendition with varying degrees of schadenfreude, it’s worth noting that Ingrid Andress is a recognized and successful country singer. And, as any good sportsperson knows, it's how you recover from a strikeout that defines the true measure of success.