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On February 28, 2025, singer and songwriter Ingrid Andress performed the US’s National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, at the Colorado Avalanche hockey game. Her performance comes almost a year after being entangled in a controversy.
In July 2024, Andress faced backlash for singing the national anthem off-key at the Home Run Derby. A video of the performance quickly spread across social media, drawing criticism.
She later addressed the situation on Instagram, admitting she had been intoxicated during the performance. She also announced that she sought professional help by checking into a facility. As per her statement, she said:
“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.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, at that time, people compared Ingrid Andress' performance of the national anthem to Fergie’s widely criticized rendition at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.
A video from the Home Run Derby in Arlington, Texas, showed Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm trying to hold back laughter, as the crowd showered boos while Andress struggled with the high notes.
Ingrid Andress has had two songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100, More Hearts Than Mine and Wishful Drinking. In addition to her music, she has co-written hits like Charli XCX’s Boys and Bebe Rexha’s Girl in the Mirror.
Ingrid Andress’s journey with country music
During a conversation with Zach Sang Show in 2022, Ingrid Andress shared that she felt more connected to country music because of her Colorado roots and family values. She believed country music carried a greater sense of authenticity and moral depth compared to pop.
Having worked with pop artists, she felt the industry often lacked sincerity, with many people not being there for the right reasons. For her, making music is about writing meaningful songs, performing live, and expressing topics she truly cares about. Andress was asked whether she wanted to become a country artist and she responded:
“Not entirely. I always knew I liked the writing of country music like the lyrics because to me country has always been the best at telling a story and kind of carrying on tradition so I loved that part of country music but I had no idea that I would be where I am now for sure because I just started as a songwriter so I wanted to learn how to write everything and country just so happened to be like my favorite thing to write.”
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Looking back on her first experience writing country music, Ingrid Andress recalled that it felt just as unusual as her early pop sessions. She entered a room where everyone was dressed in plaid, holding solo cups. When they turned to look at her, their expressions seemed to question who she was.
Ingrid Andress introduced herself and stated she was there to write a country song. The process contrasted with pop music, where sessions often begin with a track or beat. In Nashville, at the time, songwriting started with just a guitar. She said writers would sit together and brainstorm song titles and ideas without instruments.
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