Thanks to Martha Reeves and the debut of the Women’s Professional Baseball League, there’s another candidate for the “Worst National Anthem of All Time.”
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We’ve all seen videos of “Star Spangled Banner” performances where the singer is way off key, or they forget the words, causing them to stop or walk off in embarrassment. It’s always brutal to watch… but it’s kind of like a train wreck. You simply can’t look away.
The latest example is from a rock and roll legend named Martha Reeves. She kicked off the inaugural game of the Women’s Professional Baseball League, and now she’s going viral for her very interesting approach to America’s national song.
Check it out:
To speak in baseball terms… Martha may have lost her fastball.
And I mean that in the most respectful way possible. The 85-year-old is a Motown legend behind hit songs like “Heat Wave,” “Nowhere to Run” and “Dancing in the Street.” She’s also known for her band Martha and the Vandellas, which was huge during the 1960s.
Unfortunately though, that rendition lands her in the “Top 5 Worst National Anthem Performances of All Time.” And if you are wondering what others make up that list, feel free to keep scrolling. I’ve got them all ranked below:
5) Roseanne Barr at San Diego Padres Game in 1990
Comedian Roseanne Barr really set the bar low when she walked out to the microphone at a San Diego Padres game in 1990. She gets a bit of a pass because… well, she’s not a singer. She’s a comedian. Why would anyone expect her to put forth a good “Star Spangled Banner” performance, or approach it seriously?
4) Ingrid Andress at the 2024 Home Run Derby
Right before the Home Run Derby in 2024, country artist Ingrid Andress performed the “Star Spangled Banner” in a way that has been deemed one of the worst national anthem performances of all time. Andress later revealed that she was drunk during the performance, and checked herself into rehab shortly after.
3) Martha Reeves at the Women’s Professional Baseball League Debut in 2026
Here’s where Martha Reeves falls, in my humble opinion.
We already touched on this one earlier… but I’ll say it again. The Women’s Professional Baseball League got off to a rough, off-key start thanks to Martha.
2) Fergie at 2018 NBA All Star Weekend
Simply put, this national anthem from Fergie was not “Fergalicious.” The rendition she sang during the NBA’s All Star Weekend in 2018 was actually atrocious, and is widely considered to be the worst of all time.
I’ve got another one that I think is worse… but before we get to it, check out this ear-shattering performance that Fergie will never live down:
1) Gage Charles 2011 Horse Track National Anthem Performance
Gage Charles, a seemingly pleasant man with a decent singing voice, was chosen to perform the National Anthem at a horse track in 2011. I’m sure that he wishes he would’ve never accepted the offer to sing after how it went. If you’ve never seen this video… prepare yourself.
I consider it the W.O.A.T. (worst of all time):
That’s a whole lot of bad national anthems.
Why don’t we end things with a palate cleanser, eh? While there’s much debate about the worst “Star Spangled Banner” rendition of all time, there’s no question who laid down the greatest. That title goes to country music superstar Chris Stapleton at Super Bowl LVII.
I’m not sure anyone will ever top this one:
