Cody Johnson Offers Stirring National Anthem Performance at MLB All-Star Game: Watch
Cody Johnson offered a sterling performance of the national anthem on Tuesday (July 16), just before the second evening of the MLB’s All-Star game.
Appropriately, the MLB got native Texan Johnson to perform the national anthem for the game, which was held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, home to the Texas Rangers.
As the cameras centered on Johnson — who was clad in a suit jacket, jeans and a white shirt — he removed his signature cowboy hat before delivering an expertly rendered version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Johnson was well-prepared for the moment, having spent years on the road, building his fanbase concert by concert and becoming a well-known performer in Texas before breaking through to the mainstream in 2022 with his 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 country singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress, known for her hit “More Hearts Than Mine,” performed another memorable version of the national anthem at the MLB’s Home Run Derby — a pitchy version that sparked a torrent of criticism from viewers.
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Andress spoke out and owned up to the performance, posting a statement on her social media pages that read, “I’m not gonna bulls–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 the 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.”
The national anthem is notoriously hard to sing, and Andress is far from the first artist to spark backlash after performing the tune. Musicians including Fergie, Christina Aguilera and Steven Tyler have earned criticism for their performances of the song.
Johnson will return to headline at Globe Life Field later this year, when he brings his Leather Tour to the stadium on Nov. 9.
Watch Johnson’s performance below:
