Country Music Singer-Songwriter Ingrid Andress broke her silence for the first time on Thursday, almost a year after she admitted herself for rehabilitation after her admission that she had been “drunk” during her controversial national hymn performance at 2024 MLB Home Run Derby.
Andress, 33, appeared on “Vialer files” Podcast this week to discuss the fall of her performance and what happened just before she took the field on the Globe Life Field in Arlington in mid -July.
Ingrid Andress sings National Anthem before 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby. (Daniel Shirey/MLB photos via Getty Images)
“That day started like a very – what seemed like a normal day,” Andress remembered. “At the time, like that day, I knew I was drinking, but I really loved the anesthetic feeling that I had, and that’s why I just didn’t stop.”
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The four-time Grammy -nominated explained that a recent split with her first manager and a breakdown had caused her to start drinking excessively in the months up to her performance. She admitted that in her state she had been unaware of the crowd and fan reaction at home and had thought she had “kind of spiced it.”
“It was only before I woke up the next day when I was like ‘OK, this is so unlike me. This isn’t ok. I need help,'” said Andress. “I didn’t realize how much the video went viral because I had never experienced anything like it.”
Andress later admitted in a statement she shared on social media that she had been “drunk” while singing the nasjonals song. She said on Thursday that she had shared the statement while she was on flight for rehabilitation.
Ingrid Andress sings National Anthem before 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby. (Daniel Shirey/MLB photos via Getty Images)
Ingrid Andress admits she was ‘drunk’ during MLB Home Run Derby National Anthem Performance, Checks for Rehabilitation
“I don’t want to bull—- You were drunk last night,” her statement read. “I check myself into a facility today to get the help I need. It wasn’t me last night. I apologize for MLB, all fans, and this country I love so much for that reproduction. I want to let you know where rehabilitation is, I hear it is super fun.”
Andress said on Thursday that she had received an overwhelming amount of hatred and felt like “America’s punching bag.” She joked with it because of the political climate at the time she took a little comfort in knowing that she could at least unite people on one thing.
“I would say at that time that politics really bubbled, and I just feel like there was a lot of anxiety in general over the course of time. So if something, I’m doing well – I’m good at being America’s punching, because in a moment everyone was in the fact that it was terrible. So I felt like united America in a way.”
Ingrid Andress performs on stage during the day three of CMA Fest 2024 on the Chevy Riverfront scene on June 8, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Danielle Part Valle/Getty Images.)
Last month Andress had the opportunity to redeem himself and performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” on a NHL game in Colorado. She also released a new single earlier this week.
She said on Thursday that after her stint in rehabilitation and time with her family at home in Colorado, she felt ready to return.
“I spent a lot of time with the family and then I was like, ‘I think it’s time to reappear.'”
