Country Singer Reflects on National Anthem Fail ‘I Felt Like a Punching Bag’

Country singer Ingrid Andress is still trying to salvage her reputation after her embarrassing rendition of the National Anthem at the 2024 Home Run Derby. Rather than taking full responsibility for the disaster, she now claims she was unfairly targeted, calling herself "America’s punching bag."

Andress initially apologized for the performance, admitting she had been drinking before taking the stage and later announced she was checking into rehab. But now, in a new interview with Rolling Stone, she insists the criticism was "very extreme" and that the backlash was disproportionate to her mistake.

• Andress admitted to drinking before the performance and claimed she "blacked out" while singing.

• She blamed her in-ear monitor for throwing her off key, saying it was "a losing battle."

• The four-time Grammy nominee spent a month in rehab but now says she was unfairly ridiculed.

While Andress attempts to frame herself as a victim, the reality is simple: performing the National Anthem is a great honor, and Americans expect it to be treated with respect. The outrage wasn’t just about a missed note it was about professionalism, preparation, and reverence for the country.

Rather than acknowledging this, Andress says she feels like she "became a way to unite America" because "at least we can all agree that this girl botched the anthem." That much is true, but instead of learning from the experience, she seems more interested in playing the victim.

She recently got a second chance to perform the anthem at an NHL game, but whether she has truly redeemed herself remains to be seen. Perhaps next time, she’ll focus on delivering a great performance instead of blaming the audience for their reaction.

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