"This is not who I am" – Singer Ingrid Andress opens up about rehab stay after national anthem controversy

Ingrid Andress opened up about how she dealt with the tidal wave of online hate that followed her disastrous, drunken national anthem performance at a Major League Baseball event. In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, the four-time Grammy-nominated singer revealed that the morning after the performance, she fully grasped the consequences of her actions and realized she had become a version of herself she no longer recognized.

"This is not who I am.” she thought to herself.

On 15 July last year, Ingrid Andress' performance of the National Anthem sparked a massive backlash, with social media erupting in criticism of her tone deaf rendition. Soon after the performance, the singer posted an apology on Instagram, taking accountability for the incident and checked herself into a rehabilitation centre in Utah.

In her apology statement, she wrote:

"I'm not gonna bulls**t y'all, I was drunk last night. I'm checking myself into a facility today to get the help I need. That was not me last night. I apologize to MLB, all the fans, and this country I love so much for that rendition. I'll let y'all know how rehab is I hear it's super fun. xo, Ingrid."

A few hours before the performance, the "More Hearts Than Mine" singer had also released a newsletter for her closest fans, informing them about a personal issue she was going through.

"I had to part ways with some people who've helped me make a name for myself. It sent me into what my country America calls 'depression' but I'm not a doctor."

More about Ingrid Andress' recent interview

In her new interview, Ingrid Andress revealed that she "felt numb" by the time she got up to perform. She explained that in 2023, she had to part ways with both her longtime boyfriend and her manager of several years. This pushed her into a deep depression, leading her to rely on alcohol more frequently than ever.

"It was that feeling that I think I’m wasting this person’s time. “I was like, I don’t know if I want the same things you do, but I don’t want to figure that out with you.”

Ingrid Andress further added that although she initiated the split with both her manager and her boyfriend, she never adequately dealt with the emotions of losing the two people she was so close to.

"Everyone was like, ‘Well, on to the next,’” And I was like, ‘Yeah, I guess so.’ Meanwhile, I was like, is this what you’re supposed to do? I got rid of two people that I saw every day, talked to every day. I loved these people, but this was just not going where I felt like I should be going.”

Ingrid further added:

"Instead of asking for help , because I didn’t know how , I just was like, drinking feels better,”

She also explained in her interview that therapy allowed her to deal with her emotions with much better clarity, adding that she realized alcohol "doesn’t fix” the issues she is dealing with.

"It’s less about what you’re using, and it’s about the why. 'Why am I using that?' 'What are you hoping it’s going to fix?' “

Moreover, the "Wishful Drinking" singer also reflected on the singing debacle from one year ago and how she dealt with the shame of the aftermath of the event.

"That’s a very embarrassing moment. But the amount of shame you feel after something like that has to do more with how you process your mistakes, if you allow yourself to mess up. It’s amazing, actually. I didn’t realize how much pressure you put on yourself to say you can’t mess up. It’s like you can’t breathe.”

Last year, on the same day as the singing disaster, Ingrid Andress had announced the release of her new single, "Colorado 9."