Earlier this month, I attended a baseball game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
I wasn’t there to see the Cardinals, but the Savannah Bananas, baseball’s answer to the Harlem Globetrotters. The Bananas dance, sing, and interact with the crowd throughout their games.
But for all that showmanship, the most remarkable thing I saw during the game happened off the field.
When “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, everyone stood, and the stadium fell silent. Those wearing hats removed them, and nearly everyone placed their hands over their hearts.
I glanced at the family standing next to me and saw a girl, around four years old, in her father’s arms. As the anthem played, she looked around — quiet, wide-eyed, and attentive. She pointed to the American flags flying around the stadium and displayed on the big screen. It was clear this was her first time experiencing this special ritual. When the anthem ended and the crowd erupted in applause, she hugged her dad and said, “That was nice.”
Moments like this remind us why standing for the anthem matters. It’s not simply a tradition or a requirement before a sports event; it’s a collective expression of unity and shared identity.
When the anthem plays, regardless of who we are or where we come from, we pause to recognize the freedoms and sacrifices that built this country.
Standing is a simple gesture with profound meaning. It honors the men and women who have served and continue to serve in the military, many of whom have given their lives so that we can enjoy the liberties we often take for granted. It also symbolizes deference for the struggles and progress that have shaped our nation’s history — from our founding ideals to the ongoing work of fulfilling those promises for all Americans.
For that little girl, the anthem was a memorable first impression of what patriotism looks like. Children learn not by what we tell them, but by what they see and experience. In a stadium of thousands, she witnessed what dignity, respect, and unity can look like when we rise not just as individuals but as one nation. That’s how a sense of national pride is passed on: quietly and powerfully.
Critics argue that patriotism is complicated, that history is flawed, and that our symbols don’t hold the same meaning for everyone. Those are valid conversations. But standing for the anthem doesn’t ignore our imperfections; it acknowledges our shared hope that this country, for all its faults, is still worth honoring. It’s not about blind allegiance; it’s about an ongoing commitment to each other and the idea of America.
In a time when division often dominates headlines, standing for “The Star-Spangled Banner” remains one of the few collective acts that can still bring people together — even if it’s only for under two minutes. It’s an opportunity for us to be reminded, and to teach our kids, that we’re fortunate to live in such a fantastic country.
That little girl may not fully understand what the flag means or why the anthem stirs emotion, but one day she will. And when she does, perhaps she’ll remember how it felt to see thousands of people at a Bananas game pause, stand, and express love of our country — not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.
Dr. David Lenihan is the CEO of <a href="https://phsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ponce Health Sciences University</a>, a fully-accredited medical school with campuses in St. Louis and Puerto Rico. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Milwaukee Brewers v. New York Mets

Why We Stand For The National Anthem

Baseball

National Anthem

Patriotism

Senator Markwayne Mullin and Congresswoman Stephanie Bice introduced a joint resolution declaring that &#8220;The Star-Spangled Banner&#8221; only be sung in English, The Daily Wire can exclusively report.
The Oklahoma Republicans are introducing the resolution weeks after 30-year-old recording artist Nezza — full name Vanessa Hernandez — <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/latin-rb-singer-national-anthem-in-spanish-dodgers-game">performed</a> the national anthem in Spanish at a Los Angeles Dodgers game to protest ICE raids in Los Angeles.
“Para mi gente [for my people]; I stand with you,” Hernandez wrote in the caption of a video of her performance. The performer noted that she chose to sing the anthem in Spanish even after the Dodgers organization specifically requested that she sing it in English.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Singer Nezza was told by the Dodgers to sing the National Anthem in English but she sang it in Spanish to protest ICE.
She then gets very emotional and cries over ICE deporting criminals who are in our country illegally. <a href="https://t.co/1sTDbXx3aT">pic.twitter.com/1sTDbXx3aT</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1934370251510309052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
Now, Mullin and Bice are leading an effort calling for &#8220;The Star-Spangled Banner&#8221; to only be performed in English, preserving the original version of the anthem as it was written by Francis Scott Key during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.
“The Star-Spangled Banner is a sacred and unifying tradition that honors our country&#8217;s unbreakable spirit,” Mullin told The Daily Wire. “As our national anthem, it should always be performed as it was originally intended and written, in English.”
The joint resolution has also garnered the support of Republican Reps. Mike Rogers (AL), Randy Feenstra (Iowa), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa), and Buddy Carter (GA).
“A no-name singer chose to make a political statement when signing the National Anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium,” Bice charged. “The United States is a nation built on shared values, and ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ is a symbol of our unity and resilience. It should never be used for political theater or sung in Spanish.”
“Preserving the original English lyrics in public performances honors the historical context and intent of the anthem as a representation of the Nation’s values and Identity,” the resolution states. “Any public rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ should be performed as written by Francis Scott Key, in the English language, to preserve its historical and cultural integrity,” it goes on to say.
The resolution comes months after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-to-issue-order-making-english-official-language-of-u-s">signed</a> an executive order naming English the official language of the United States.
“From the founding of our Republic, English has been used as our national language. Our Nation’s historic governing documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, have all been written in English,” the Trump White House affirmed in the executive order. “It is therefore long past time that English is declared as the official language of the United States.”
“A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society,” the order added.

American Flag National Anthem

After Spanish National Anthem Debacle, Lawmakers Move To Keep ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ In English

deportation

Immigration

Los Angeles

U.S. National Anthem

Latin R&amp;B singer Nezza made waves before a Los Angeles Dodgers game on Saturday when she sang “The Star Spangled Banner” in Spanish despite being told not to.
The 30-year-old recording artist, whose full name is Vanessa Hernández, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babynezza/video/7515995487342824734?lang=en">mocked</a> the controversy in a post on her TikTok account. “para mi gente [for my people]; I stand with you,” she wrote in the video caption, which has almost 8 million views.
“Watch the Dodgers tell me I can’t sing the Spanish ‘Star Spangled Banner that Roosevelt literally commissioned in 1945,” she gloated in a text overlay.
The video clip attached shows Nezza smiling and wearing a Dominican Republic jersey. A team representative can be heard telling her, “We are gonna do the song in English today. I’m not sure if that wasn’t relayed.” Nezza immediately stops smiling and says, “Ohhhh.” 
The video then cuts to a shot of her singing the anthem in Spanish with a text overlay that says, “so I did it anyway.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Singer Nezza was told by the Dodgers to sing the National Anthem in English but she sang it in spanish to protest ICE.
She then gets very emotional and cries over ICE deporting criminals who are in our country illegally. <a href="https://t.co/1sTDbXx3aT">pic.twitter.com/1sTDbXx3aT</a>
&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1934370251510309052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Nezza followed up with <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@babynezza/video/7516015340464262431?lang=en">another TikTok</a> on Saturday night, saying through tears, “Safe to say I’m never allowed in that stadium ever again.&#8221; 
“Bear with me ’cause I’m still very shaken up and emotional,” the singer said in the follow-up before trying to justify her decision. “You can Google it, (but) I’ll just read it to you really quick: ‘It was officially commissioned in 1945 by the U.S. State Department as a part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s good neighbor policy to foster a better relationship with Latin America.”
“Because of this, I didn’t think I would be met with any sort of, like, no, especially because we’re in L.A., and with everything happening. And I’ve sung the national anthem many times in my life, but … today, out of all days, I could not, I’m sorry,” Nezza added.
“I just could not believe when she walked in and told me no. I just felt like I needed to do it. For anyone who’s been following me for a while, you know everything I do is out of love,” she continued. “And I am proud of myself for doing that today. Because my parents are immigrants, and they’ve been citizens my whole life at this point. They got documented really early, but I just can’t imagine them being ripped away from me, just even at this age, let alone [as] a little kid. What are we doing?”
On Sunday, a Dodgers team official told <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2025-06-15/nezza-sang-the-national-anthem-in-spanish-at-dodger-stadium-despite-teams-objection">The Los Angeles Times</a> that “there were no consequences from the club regarding the performance and that Nezza would be welcome back at the stadium in the future.”
Videos of Nezza’s Spanish rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” began circulating on social media, where it received mixed but mostly negative reactions. 
“Can you imagine what would happen if you did that in another country? The entitlement and disrespect is off the charts,” one reaction on X <a href="https://x.com/SKDoubleDub33/status/1934370881704227241">said</a>. 
“Kinda loses its virtue when you start posting about it for likes and attention without letting the recognition and praise happen organically. Shows you did it for the wrong reasons,” another commenter <a href="https://x.com/getwreckednerds/status/1934410660278042633">chimed in</a>.

Nezza

OFF PITCH: National Anthem Sung In Spanish At Dodgers Game In Protest Of ICE

Singer Belts National Anthem In Spanish At Dodgers Game Despite Being Warned Not To

California

Celebrities

Los Angeles Dodgers

singer

TikTok

U.S.

Country singer Ingrid Andress is reflecting on her viral rendition of the National Anthem at the 2024 Home Run Derby last summer, saying she doesn’t deserve all the hate even though she messed up the song.
“I am sorry you had to witness that horrific rendition of our nation’s anthem,” she <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/ingrid-andress-talks-national-anthem-comeback-rehab-1235288752/">told</a> Rolling Stone in a new interview, representing the first time she’s gone into detail about the incident. “Whoever that was is not an accurate representation of who I am at all,” Andress continued. “You got to see me in my worst moment, so now, everything from here will be great.”
The singer did apologize after the clip went viral and told fans she would be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/country-music-singer-ingrid-andress-checks-herself-into-rehab-after-disastrous-national-anthem-rendition">checking into rehab</a>. Now she’s saying despite her mistake, the haters took it too far.
“I felt like America’s punching bag. I became a way to unite America. It was like, ‘At least we can all agree that this girl botched the anthem,’” Andress said. “I’ll be the punching bag for sure, but I didn’t commit a crime. It felt very extreme for what the situation was.”
The singer recalled drinking alcohol prior to the performance, which she said was not out of character for her. Then she felt a “numbness” take over and claims she “blacked out” while she was singing.
“If you don’t start on the note that it gives you, you’re screwed,” she said of missing the prompt of her in-ear monitor. “It was my voice fighting with the tuner, which is a losing battle.”
Andress also addressed her statement about going to rehab at the time. The country star said she spent one month in treatment. “I needed to let people know that it’s not just this one incident that I messed up. ‘I need to get better. I’m at such a low place, I’m not gonna lie about it,’” she told the outlet. 
“I feel like I’ve gotten to know myself again, which is probably the biggest gift of all of it,” Andress said of her current situation. “I learned to not ever let your past dictate what you can do in the future. Sometimes it takes a little public humiliation to turn your life around.”
The four-time Grammy nominee got a shot to redeem herself when she was selected to sing the National Anthem at a hockey game between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche on February 28.

Ingrid Andress

Country Singer Who Botched National Anthem Says She ‘Felt Like America’s Punching Bag’

Country Singer Who Botched National Anthem Says She 'Felt Like America's Punching Bag'

Country Music

Country Singers

Entertainment

Anti-war activist country group The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks) will reportedly show up at the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/democratic-national-convention" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Democratic National Convention</a> to sing the national anthem.
On Thursday, multiple sources told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/22/entertainment/the-chicks-to-sing-national-anthem-at-dnc/index.html">CNN</a> that the female trio &#8212; Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire, and Natalie Maines &#8212; will be on hand in Chicago to sing the Star Spangled Banner ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris officially being named the Democratic presidential nominee.
The group also appeared virtually at the DNC in 2020, which was not held in person due to COVID-19, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/g-s1-18907/the-chicks-national-anthem-democratic-national-convention">NPR</a> noted.
In the 90s, the group from Texas was one of the biggest success stories in country music until they faced a massive backlash in 2003 when one of the singers in the band, Maines, said she was against then-President George W. Bush and the Iraq war following the September 11th terrorist attack.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Chicks Will Perform The National Anthem at the Final Night of the DNC
More: <a href="https://t.co/VAd9FbaSaK">https://t.co/VAd9FbaSaK</a> <a href="https://t.co/WLiJJNBZJI">pic.twitter.com/WLiJJNBZJI</a>
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) <a href="https://twitter.com/RollingStone/status/1826661862207099135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
Speaking to the crowd at their concert in the U.K., Maines said, “We do not want this war, this violence and we’re ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.”
A backlash ensued with country music stations all over the nation refusing to play their songs, the outlet noted.
At the time, CNN reported that “station managers said their decisions were prompted by calls from irate listeners who thought criticism of the president was unpatriotic.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1723831707612000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pyrv88A5nsmWM2F2Wr9As">Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you.</a>
The DNC has been a parade of one celebrity/performer after another. Rabid anti-abortion activist singer Pink is also expected to show up and perform at the DNC on Thursday for the closing night of the convention, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rabid-abortion-activist-pink-to-perform-at-dnc">reported</a>.
Per a Chicago NBC <a href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/dnc-chicago-2024/pink-set-to-headline-final-night-of-dnc-in-chicago-perform-before-harris-acceptance-speech/3528327/">affiliate</a>, the 44-year-old singer is scheduled just before Harris takes the stage to accept her party’s nomination.
Pink, whose real name is Alecia Moore, has been an outspoken supporter of the Democratic Party, and specifically of abortion access, for years. She reacted strongly to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 by telling fans they should stop listening to her music if they were pro-life.
“Let’s be clear: if you believe the government belongs in a woman’s uterus, a gay persons (sic) business or marriage, or that racism is okay- THEN PLEASE IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD NEVER F***ING LISTEN TO MY MUSIC AGAIN. AND ALSO F*** RIGHT OFF. We good?” she tweeted at the time, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/they-hate-you-pnk-gets-personal-attacking-sad-old-white-men-in-anti-gop-screed">reported</a>.
Amanda Harding contributed to this piece.

The Chicks

Anti-War Country Group The Chicks To Sing National Anthem At DNC

Democratic National Convention

Joe Biden

Kamala Harris

Politics

<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/golf/rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First-ranked</a> golfer Scottie Scheffler won the Gold Medal in the Paris <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/olympics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Olympics</a> on Sunday.
Media <a href="https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40724534/scottie-scheffler-wins-men-golf-gold-final-round-62" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/2024-olympics-golf-leaderboard-scottie-scheffler-wins-gold-medal-with-course-record-62-in-astounding-effort/live/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the 28-year-old American rallied from four shots behind to victory with a 9-under 62 final round at Le Golf National.
Tommy Fleetwood of Great Britain got the Silver Medal and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan won the Bronze.
The winners stood on a podium with their medals and Scheffler got emotional as the National Anthem played and the American flag was raised.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Profound emotions for Scottie Scheffler hearing the Star-Spangled Banner after winning Olympic gold. 🥹🇺🇸
📺 Golf Channel and Peacock | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParisOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParisOlympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/kgsOVOBZjD">pic.twitter.com/kgsOVOBZjD</a>
&mdash; Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) <a href="https://twitter.com/GolfChannel/status/1820144570774045109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Scheffler, who was standing on the highest platform in the middle, was seen wiping away tears.
&#8220;You literally cannot put a price on this,&#8221; Golf Digest staff writer Christopher Powers said in a viral post to X featuring the clip.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
You literally cannot put a price on this 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/Bj1mOO9AvN">pic.twitter.com/Bj1mOO9AvN</a>
&mdash; Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPowers14/status/1820132801922109607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Team USA posted on X a photo of Scheffler with his eyes closed and his right hand to heart.
&#8220;Soak it in, Scottie,&#8221; the account said, along with a heart emoji.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Soak it in, Scottie ❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParisOlympics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParisOlympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/wJfm5hpXvt">pic.twitter.com/wJfm5hpXvt</a>
&mdash; Team USA (@TeamUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/1820138266441433550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Photographers also <a href="https://x.com/wfaa/status/1820140519738974590" target="_blank" rel="noopener">snapped</a> Scheffler embracing his wife, Meredith Scudder, as she held their baby boy Bennett.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A gold medal for the whole family 🥇
Dallas golfer Scottie Scheffler celebrated his Olympic win with his wife Meredith and their baby boy Bennett. Scheffler was emotional while listening to the Star-Spangled Banner on the podium. 
Full results: <a href="https://t.co/K9u73f9kDj">https://t.co/K9u73f9kDj</a> <a href="https://t.co/tcXIH83mPh">pic.twitter.com/tcXIH83mPh</a>
&mdash; WFAA (@wfaa) <a href="https://twitter.com/wfaa/status/1820140519738974590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Scheffler has already won the PGA Tournament six times. He also has two Masters titles, including one from this year.
The golf pro faced controversy in the spring when he was arrested over a traffic incident in Louisville, though all <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scottie-scheffler-and-his-attorney-respond-to-charges-being-dropped-in-criminal-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charges were later dropped</a>.
With this year&#8217;s Olympics past the halfway point, the United States <a href="https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/medals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">led all other countries</a> in the number of medals with 69 total as of Sunday.
China boasted the most Gold Medals with 19, though the U.S. was right behind with 18.
A number of other contests still have yet to be completed, as the summer games have roughly another week to go.
Leading U.S. athletes who have won the Gold in this year&#8217;s games so far include <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/katie-ledecky-ties-three-veteran-swimmers-for-most-decorated-american-female-olympian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">swimmer Katie Ledecky</a> and <a href="https://people.com/simone-biles-celebrates-latest-gold-medal-before-grabbing-hot-dogs-8690038" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gymnast Simone Biles</a>.
The Paris Olympics faced backlash due to a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/paris-olympics-opening-ceremony-features-drag-parody-of-last-supper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drag show parody</a> evoking &#8220;The Last Supper&#8221; with Jesus Christ and his apostles.
Organizers reportedly <a href="https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40661411/paris-2024-apologizes-last-supper-sketch-criticism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apologized</a> to anyone who took offense at the performance, one of several acts during the opening ceremony.
There has also been an uproar over <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lin-yu%E2%80%91ting-second-olympic-boxer-who-failed-gender-test-beats-female-opponent" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two boxers in the Olympics</a> who were previously barred from a women’s competition over gender concerns.

USA’s Scottie Scheffler

Golf Star Scottie Scheffler Wins Olympic Gold Medal, Gets Emotional As National Anthem Plays

Golf

Olympics

Sports

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/country-music" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Country music</a> singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress said in a statement on Tuesday that she is checking herself into rehab after she was widely slammed over her <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/grammy-nominated-singer-dragged-for-national-anthem-rendition-at-mlb-home-run-derby" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disastrous rendition</a> of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/national-anthem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national anthem</a> at the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mlb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MLB</a> Home Run Derby in Arlington, Texas, on Monday night.
&#8220;I&#8217;m not gonna bulls*** y&#8217;all, I was drunk last night,&#8221; she posted on social media. &#8220;I&#8217;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&#8217;ll let y&#8217;all know how rehab is I hear it&#8217;s super fun.&#8221;
The four-time Grammy Award-nominated singer, 32, took to the field at Globe Life Field before the competition began. After her performance, social media exploded with viewers comparing her “Star Spangled Banner” performance to Fergie’s disastrous 2018 attempt and Maya Rudolph performing a parody of the song on “SNL.”
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
NEW: Singer Ingrid Andress checks herself into a rehab facility after her horrendous National Anthem performance at the Home Run Derby.
Her announcement was made on X.
&#8220;I&#8217;m not gonna bullsh*t y&#8217;all, I was drunk last night. I&#8217;m checking myself into a facility today to get the… <a href="https://t.co/hxHxiFqrql">pic.twitter.com/hxHxiFqrql</a>
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1813277172817358901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
“My ears are bleeding. One of the worst national anthem renditions ever,” one X user <a href="https://x.com/michaelschwab13/status/1813004225926078866" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in response to the performance.
“Fergie watching Ingrid Andress claim her crown for worst national anthem of all time,” another <a href="https://x.com/Theylovelus/status/1813004468616605860" target="_blank" rel="noopener">echoed</a>.
Sports Illustrated writer Alex Carr <a href="https://x.com/AlexCarrMLB/status/1813003751411839368" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “I’m so sorry, I’m sure Ingrid Andress is a wonderful person, but that was one of the worst national anthems I think I’ve ever heard in my whole life.”
The Michigan native’s breakthrough 2019 single, “More Hearts Than Mine,” peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her 2022 single, “Wishful Drinking,” later became her second entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
She received Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Best Country Album (“Lady Like”), and Best Country Song (“More Hearts Than Mine”) in 2021. Andress was also nominated in 2022 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Wishful Drinking.”

2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby

Country Music Singer Ingrid Andress Checks Herself Into Rehab After Disastrous National Anthem Rendition

Music

Texas

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/country-music">Country music</a> singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress is receiving terrible reviews for her rendition of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/national-anthem">national anthem</a> at the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mlb">MLB</a> Home Run Derby in Arlington, Texas, on Monday night.
The four-time Grammy Award-nominated singer, 32, took to the field at Globe Life Field before the competition began. After her performance, social media exploded with viewers comparing her “Star Spangled Banner” performance to Fergie’s disastrous 2018 attempt and Maya Rudolph performing a parody of the song on “SNL.”
&#8220;My ears are bleeding. One of the worst national anthem renditions ever,&#8221; one X user <a href="https://x.com/michaelschwab13/status/1813004225926078866">wrote</a> in response to the performance.
&#8220;Fergie watching Ingrid Andress claim her crown for worst national anthem of all time,&#8221; another <a href="https://x.com/Theylovelus/status/1813004468616605860">echoed</a>.
Sports Illustrated writer Alex Carr <a href="https://x.com/AlexCarrMLB/status/1813003751411839368">said</a>, &#8220;I’m so sorry, I’m sure Ingrid Andress is a wonderful person, but that was one of the worst national anthems I think I’ve ever heard in my whole life.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Ingrid Andress performs National Anthem at All-Star Game HR derby 2024 🇺🇸" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WjSiCqLUr7A?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Michigan native&#8217;s breakthrough 2019 single, &#8220;More Hearts Than Mine,&#8221; peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her 2022 single, &#8220;Wishful Drinking,&#8221; later became her second entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
She received Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Best Country Album (“Lady Like”), and Best Country Song (“More Hearts Than Mine”) in 2021. Andress was also nominated in 2022 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Wishful Drinking.”
Andress’s national anthem performance occurred just one day after she announced new music coming soon. 
&#8220;Greetings to everyone that has a pulse,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C9c3DWxOnpY/?img_index=1">shared</a> with her 329,000 Instagram followers. &#8220;I truly love you all so much. I’ve been absent for a minute, but I’m so stoked to announce that my new single “Colorado 9” comes out on July 24th, pre-save it now (link in bio).&#8221;
“To celebrate, I’m playing two very special shows, one in Nashville, this Wednesday, July 17th, at Row One, and one in Denver on Wednesday, July 24th, at Globe Hall,” she continued. “Thank you for being here for me even though I’ve been living under a rock. Y’all are the best and I can’t wait to see you at my shows (stay tuned for more show announcements soon).”

Grammy-Nominated Singer Dragged For National Anthem Rendition At MLB Home Run Derby

Grammy Nominated Singer Dragged For National Anthem Rendition At MLB Home Run Derby

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/louisiana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louisiana</a> Governor Jeff Landry urged state officials this week to create a new policy that requires student-athletes to be present for the national anthem at sporting events after Louisiana State University&#8217;s (LSU) women&#8217;s basketball team missed the national anthem during its regional final game this week.
LSU faced intense criticism for not being on the court when the national anthem was played shortly before their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa won 94-87.
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played,” <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2024/04/lsu-basketball-teams-national-anthem-absence-comes-under-fire-on-social-media.html">said</a> LSU coach Kim Mulkey. “We kind of (have) a routine where we’re on the floor and then they come off at the 12-minute mark. I don’t know … we come in and we do our pregame stuff. I’m sorry … Listen, that’s nothing intentionally done.”
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Iowa players holding hands during the American National Anthem. LSU players left the court before the anthem was performed. <a href="https://t.co/GhCLHUXiBX">pic.twitter.com/GhCLHUXiBX</a>
&mdash; Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealDanZak/status/1774938110192677111?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Republican governor responded to the backlash that the team faced by saying that officials need to enact a policy requiring athletes to show up for face serious consequences.
&#8220;My mother coached women’s high school basketball during the height of desegregation, no one has a greater respect for the sport and for Coach Mulkey,&#8221; he said. &#8220;However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag! It is time that all college boards, including Regent, put a policy in place that student athletes be present for the national anthem or risk their athletic scholarship! This is a matter of respect that all collegiate coaches should instill.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
My mother coached women’s high school basketball during the height of desegregation, no one has a greater respect for the sport and for Coach Mulkey. However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag !
It is…
&mdash; Jeff Landry (@JeffLandry) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffLandry/status/1775165096945229863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Mulkey has recently been in the news after The Washington Post ran a hit <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/30/kim-mulkey-lsu-griner-reese/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">piece</a> on her that accused her of exploding at officials, treating reporters poorly, holding grudges, and clashing with players.
She reportedly has had an intense feud with Brittney Griner and the report claimed that she was harsh toward gay players — an accusation that she and her legal team have strongly pushed back against, including providing an affidavit that undercut one of the claims made against her.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry speaks during CPAC (

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry Pushes For Policy Change After LSU Misses National Anthem

College sports

Jeff Landry

Louisiana

Louisiana State University

Social Issues

On Monday night, LSU&#8217;s women&#8217;s basketball team, which was about to play the Iowa Hawkeyes in Albany, New York, in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/college-basketball/article-13261889/lsu-american-national-anthem-iowa-elite8-march-madness.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">left the court</a> before the national anthem was played.
While the anthem was being played, the Hawkeyes team stood on the court holding hands.
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Iowa players holding hands during the American National Anthem. LSU players left the court before the anthem was performed. <a href="https://t.co/GhCLHUXiBX">pic.twitter.com/GhCLHUXiBX</a>
&mdash; Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealDanZak/status/1774938110192677111?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“Honestly, I don&#8217;t even know when the anthem was played. We kind of have a routine where we are on the floor and then they come off at the 12-minute mark. &#8230; We come in and do our pre-game stuff. I’m sorry. Listen, that’s nothing intentionally done,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said in an interview after the game.
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Kim Mulkey said her team didn&#39;t intentionally leave the floor prior to the playing of the United States National Anthem. 
&quot;Honestly, I don&#39;t even know when the anthem was played. We kind of have a routine [for leaving the court at a certain time].&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JclJExC1Ym">pic.twitter.com/JclJExC1Ym</a>
&mdash; Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealDanZak/status/1775005646741516666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The game, which Iowa won 94-87, was a rematch of last year’s NCAA Championship game, which LSU won 102-85. Iowa now will play in the Final Four.
Last year, the LSU women’s team <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/04/02/sports/kim-mulkey-explains-lsu-missing-national-anthem-vs-iowa-after-online-backlash/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">did not appear</a> during the playing of the national anthem before their game against Iowa in the national championship in Dallas.
“LSU is never on the court for the National Anthem. &#8230; If you ever go to an actual LSU game you’ll see that they’re never on the court for the anthem. It’s that simple. I’ve covered them for 3 years &amp; they’ve never been,” Baton Rouge sports reporter Chessa Bouche stated.
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LSU is never on the court for the National Anthem <a href="https://t.co/tfsDAgdOjn">https://t.co/tfsDAgdOjn</a>
&mdash; Chessa Bouche (@chessabouche) <a href="https://twitter.com/chessabouche/status/1774940414404882910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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If you ever go to an actual LSU game you’ll see that they’re never on the court for the anthem. It’s that simple. I’ve covered them for 3 years &amp; they’ve never been.
&mdash; Chessa Bouche (@chessabouche) <a href="https://twitter.com/chessabouche/status/1775011534462206344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Iowa star Caitlin Clark scored 41 points and dished out 12 assists in the game on Monday; LSU star Angel Reese fouled out in the fourth quarter. It was the fifth time this year Clark scored more than 40 points.
“She&#8217;s just a generational player, and she just makes everybody around her better,” Mulkey said of Clark. “That&#8217;s what the great ones do. &#8230; What did I say to her? I said, I sure am glad you&#8217;re leaving. I said, Girl, you something else. Never seen anything like it.”
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&#8220;Caitlin&#8217;s very skilled,” LSU guard Hailey Van Lilth, who guarded Clark, said. “She&#8217;s a great player. She hit some tough shots. There&#8217;s not a whole lot you can do about some of the threes she hit.”

LSU v Iowa

LSU Women’s Basketball Team Loses In Elite 8 After Skipping National Anthem While Iowa Team Held Hands On Court

Women's Basketball

The Washington Post wasted no time after the collapse of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/baltimore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baltimore’s</a> Francis Scott Key Bridge in reminding readers that the man it was named after was a problematic figure.
Early Tuesday morning, a massive container ship crashed into the bridge, knocking it down, and leaving at least six construction workers presumed dead.
In a Wednesday <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2024/03/27/francis-scott-key-history-profile/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> titled &#8220;Who was Francis Scott Key, controversial poet the bridge is named after?&#8221; the paper reminded readers about Key&#8217;s &#8220;racist views.&#8221;
Francis Scott Key is best known for writing the poem that became America&#8217;s national anthem, &#8220;The Star-Spangled Banner.&#8221; He wrote the lyrics the morning after an 1814 British attack on Fort McHenry, which is right by the collapsed bridge.
&#8220;As The Washington Post previously reported, &#8216;The Star-Spangled Banner&#8217; did not become the national anthem until more than a century after it was written because of controversy, partly over Key’s racist views,&#8221; the Post wrote.
&#8220;One section of the poem’s third verse, in particular, has come under scrutiny from those who say it was intended to mock or threaten African Americans who escaped slavery to join the British forces, after being promised land in exchange for their service,&#8221; the paper continued.
The verse in question reads, &#8220;No refuge could save the hireling and slave, From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And The Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.&#8221;
The Post also reminded readers that Key was a slave owner who opposed abolition and made racist remarks about black people.
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However, the paper also acknowledged that critics have pointed out that as a lawyer, Key defended several slaves, and he freed several of his own slaves.
<div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body">
Because of his mixed record on racial issues, monuments to Key have been defaced, and critics have called for institutions named after him to be renamed.
In 2017, vandals <a href="https://baltimoreheritage.org/francis-scott-key-monument-splashed-red-paint-spray-painted-words-racist-anthem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defaced</a> the Francis Scott Key Monument in Baltimore with red paint and spray-painted “Racist Anthem” and “blood on his hands.”
Investigators are still searching for the remains of the six people who fell in the water at the time of the Key bridge&#8217;s collapse.
The search, as well as the cleanup process, is expected to finish before any rebuilding of the bridge begins.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/27/baltimore-key-bridge-collapse-news-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">toured</a> the area of the destroyed bridge in the rain with the U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday afternoon.
President Biden also addressed the disaster on Tuesday, <a href="https://wtop.com/baltimore/2024/03/biden-federal-government-should-pay-to-rebuild-baltimores-key-bridge-after-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> he wants the federal government to pay for the bridge&#8217;s rebuilding.
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TOPSHOT-US-TRANSPORT-ACCIDENT-ECONOMY

WaPo Wastes No Time Slamming Francis Scott Key Again After Namesake Baltimore Bridge Destroyed

American Flag

Baltimore

Maryland

Media

Washington Post

Some people say that conservatives can’t enjoy culture. These people think we’re all a bunch of troglodytic philistines who can’t tolerate the slightest deviance from outdated norms without harboring violent thoughts about whoever dares to exercise some creativity. Frankly, I hope the people who say these things die. Choking on their stinking culture until their eyes burst and come bubbling down their cheeks like acid that burns their faces off right in the middle of the Oscar speech in which they complain about Donald Trump’s morality just before telling their third wife they want a divorce while driving to see their mistress when they’re supposed to be picking their kid up from rehab. Even the thought of their painful deaths makes me laugh. Well, not laugh, but I make a sort of repeated guttural noise that more or less communicates amusement. Only sissies laugh.
But today, just to prove that these hostile cliches about conservatives aren’t true, I want to open the show with a review of a great American cultural event, the Super Bowl, which every conservative enjoys. Or used to enjoy back in the day when men were men — and they wore those adorable little leather helmets that made them look cute as a button.
This year’s contest began with Andra Day singing the Black National Anthem. And let me say right off this was a tremendous relief to me because I keep hearing black people are unhappy and until now, I worried America wasn’t treating them right. But it turns out black people live in an entirely different nation with its own anthem. So they’re not our problem. I mean, we have enough to worry about right here in America and can’t always be thinking about how people are treated in … Black Land, or whatever their country is called. If they want to be treated like Americans, they should come to live here. It’s like those women in Saudi Arabia who have to dress up like the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come even when it’s not December. Sure, I wish they could dress like our girls in fishnet outfits with their bare asses hanging out. I love those. But they’re from Saudi Arabia — it’s another country, like the one the black folks have. If things are hard there, well, it’s just too bad.
Anyway, after the Black National Anthem, we sang our anthem for this country, and then the game began: lots of enormous guys running up and down the field, some of whom looked like they’d come all the way from the nation where the black people live, so it was nice to see they were allowed to visit here and participate, almost like real Americans.
<h4><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1168-info-apocalypse">WATCH: The Andrew Klavan Show</a></h4>
Then, it was halftime, so I went downstairs to the kitchen to see my wife. I love my wife. She combines a comforting domesticity with a smoldering sensuality that still sets my heart on fire after all these years. So halftime was great. Also she made dinner, which was a definite plus because I’d worked up a real appetite watching the American football team play the visiting blacks.
I arrived back in the television room just in time to see some guy skating around in a sparkly blue muscle costume. And all right, that struck me as a little gay, but then the guy was black so maybe that’s how they do things where he comes from. Every country has its own culture and I think we have to be open-minded. As long as they don’t come here and make trouble I don’t care what they do back home. Probably sit around the campfire and sing their national anthem before — I don’t know — whatever — dancing on skates like gay people. I’m not here to judge.
Finally, there were the great commercials, masterworks of American creativity with Ben Affleck making $10 million for five minutes of work eating a donut with his soon-to-be ex-wife Jennifer Lopez, so he has some money to give her when she leaves him for Tom Brady. Now if we couldn’t appreciate American culture like that, we really would be philistines. Or as they call them today, Palestinians. Maybe we should give them their own country like the blacks. Nah, forget it — bad idea.
* * *
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. He is the bestselling author of the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The third installment, “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/House-Death-Cameron-Winter-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0BW1ZTVP9?ref_=ast_author_dp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The House of Love and Death</a>,” is now available. Follow him on X: @andrewklavan
This excerpt is taken from the opening satirical monologue of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1167-snow-job-in-moscow-crap-storm-in-d-c-1234">The Andrew Klavan Show</a>.”
The views expressed in this satirical article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Super Bowl LVIII – San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs

If Black People Have Their Own National Anthem, Does That Mean They Have Their Own Country?

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