Cody Johnson delivered an outstanding rendition of the national anthem on Tuesday (July 16), just before the second night of the MLB All-Star Game.
Fittingly, MLB tapped native Texan Johnson to perform the national anthem for the game, which was held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, home of the Texas Rangers.
As cameras focused on Johnson — who was dressed in a jacket, jeans and white shirt — he removed his signature cowboy hat before delivering a masterful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Johnson was well-prepared for the moment, having spent years on the road building his fan base gig-by-gig and becoming a well-known performer in Texas before breaking into the mainstream in 2022 with the hit “Til You Can't,” which was named single of the year by the Country Music Association.
Johnson's performance came one night after fellow singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress, known for her hit “More Hearts Than Mine,” performed another memorable version of the national anthem at MLB's Home Run Derby — an intense version that sparked torrential review by viewers.
Andress spoke up and took on the show, posting a statement on her social media pages that read: “I will not do bullsh*t. I was drunk last night. I am checking myself into a facility today to get the help I need. It wasn't me last night. I apologize to MLB, all the fans and this country that I love so much for this performance. I'll let you know how the recovery goes, I hear it's a lot of fun. xo, Ingrid.”
The national anthem is notoriously difficult to sing, and Andress is far from the first artist to spark backlash after performing the tune. Musicians such as Fergie, Christina Aguilera and Steven Tyler have won critical acclaim for their performances of the song.
Johnson will return to headline Globe Life Field later this year when he brings his Leather tour to the stadium on November 9.
Watch Johnson's performance below:
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/cody-johnson-national-anthem-mlb-all-star-game-1235732936/
