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Ingrid Andress shared a candid conversation about her viral, “drunk” National Anthem performance on a recent episode of The Viall Files podcast. The singer-songwriter reflected on the day she delivered the rendition at the MLB Home Run Derby in July 2024, her decision to seek help and check herself into a rehab facility, the “global humiliation” she felt, and more.
Andress, 33, said it started as “what seemed like a normal day,” when she performed at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. She said she was “so gone,” that although she thought it might not have been “my best” performance, she thought she “kind of nailed it.” But when she woke up the next day, Andress knew, “this is so unlike me. I need help. …It’s terrifying that I don’t remember how (the performance) went.”
Andress said she was drinking more heavily after parting ways with her first manager and breaking up with a serious boyfriend around the same time. She said on The Viall Files that she didn’t allow herself to process the emotions, and found herself turning to alcohol. After the National Anthem performance in Texas, Andress said she decided to seek help.
“It only took, you know, global humiliation for me to be like, ‘this is a problem,’” Andress said. She didn’t realize how viral the video had become until she was heading to rehab, and said she was grateful she didn’t have her phone. Andress said she was “so terrified of f***ing up for so long in my career, and I feel like now that I’ve done that on such a massive scale, it feels like the bandaid has been ripped off. …I’m more comfortable showing up as a human being now.”
Throughout her conversation on The Viall Files, Andress also spoke about her “life changing” experience touring with music legend Stevie Nicks and more. Find the full episode on iHeartRadio.
Andress said in a statement after the viral National Anthem performance: “I’m not gonna bullsh*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.”
Andress has since emerged after her rehab program and taking a break from the public eye. She performed the National Anthem again, thanking Colorado Avalanche, a Denver-based NHL team, for hosting her, and released a new ballad with a heartfelt message earlier this week. Andress also opened up in an in-depth interview with Rolling Stone.
“I love you all sooo much and your support makes being back on the grid way less scary,” Andress said in an Instagram post on Friday (March 7) as she debuted the visualizer for “Footprints,” which she filmed at Loveland Ski Area in Colorado. Watch it here: