‘I was drunk’: Ingrid Andress responds to criticism of national anthem performance

Ingrid Andress has addressed the negative feedback she received for singing the national anthem off-key at the Home Run Derby for Major League Baseball.

The singer, who is 32 years old, shared on her social media that she had been intoxicated while singing a completely out-of-tune version of the Star-Spangled Banner at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Monday night. She also revealed that she will be seeking treatment at a rehabilitation facility.

"I'll be honest with you all, I was intoxicated last night," she wrote in a message on X, formally known as Twitter. "I am going to a facility today to receive the support I require."

"I wasn't myself last night," the message went on. "I'm sorry to MLB, all the fans, and this beloved country for my behavior. I'll keep you updated on my rehab journey, I've heard it's really enjoyable." She signed off with "hugs and kisses, Ingrid".

There was a lot of talk on social media about the singer having more problems than just with her in-ear microphone during her performance. People said she sounded off-key, struggled with high notes, and didn't seem like her usual professional self. Some online critics even said it was one of the worst national anthem performances they'd ever heard at a big sports event, with some comparing it to Fergie's infamous jazzy version at the 2018 NBA All-Star game.

On Monday, Andress emailed her subscriber list to give them a sneak peek of her new single, Colorado 9. In the message, as reported by Variety, she opened up about taking a break from the spotlight due to depression following a split from the people who helped start her career. Andress shared that she was able to find solace by spending time in Colorado.

Andress, originally from Southfield, Michigan, and grew up in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, has released two studio albums so far; Lady Like in 2020 and Good Person in 2022. She has also achieved success with two singles that made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart, More Hearts Than Mine and Wishful Drinking. Furthermore, Andress has credits as a co-writer on Charli XCX's popular 2017 track Boys and Bebe Rexha's Girl in the Mirror.

Throughout her career, she has been recognized with four Grammy nominations, including a nomination for best new artist in 2021. She has also been nominated for best country song. She has performed solo as well as with artists like Stevie Nicks, Keith Urban, Dan + Shay, and Tim McGraw.