Patti LaBelle's national anthem draws MLB fan backlash
Patti LaBelle's national anthem at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia triggered sharp online criticism after viewers said the 82-year-old star appeared to miss lyrics and added flourishes to "The Star-Spangled Banner." Some MLB fans called the take disrespectful, while others defended her age and legacy.
Key Takeaways
- Philadelphia native Patti LaBelle sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the 96th MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
- Viewers online said she missed lyrics and took creative liberties, with some calling the rendition "horrible" or "completely disrespectful."
- Defenders stressed she is 82 and still sounds remarkable for her age.
- Jennifer Hudson also performed "God Bless America" in a patriotic pregame tied to America 250.
The reaction spread fast after Tuesday night's Midsummer Classic, putting the soul legend at the center of another celebrity breaking news surge.
What happened during the Patti LaBelle national anthem?
According to Yahoo Entertainment, LaBelle performed the anthem at a packed Citizens Bank Park in her hometown to open the American League vs. National League showcase.
Reporting said she appeared to miss some lyrics and take creative liberties with parts of the song. Fox News OutKick confirmed the Philadelphia native — long called the "Godmother of Soul" — handled "Star-Spangled Banner" duties on the same night Jennifer Hudson sang "God Bless America."
The hometown booking carried extra weight: the 82-year-old icon sang during All-Star week in Philadelphia a little over a week after the nation's 250th birthday celebrations.
Why are MLB fans calling the performance disrespectful?
Much of the anger targeted how she altered the song. On X, one user argued that even great singers should not "add their own twist" with runs or try "making it your own."
Others were harsher. Fans called the take "horrible," "embarrassing and insulting," and "completely disrespectful" to the anthem. Another wrote, "My poor ears. They exorcising demons out there in Philly."
Those posts fueled the viral frame of MLB fans blasting a hometown star over an unconventional anthem, even as the night featured broader patriotic pageantry.
Did anyone defend Patti LaBelle's All-Star Game performance?
Yes. Supporters pushed back on the pile-on. "Omg all these horrible replies! The woman is 82!! Let's hear you at 82!!!" one person wrote. Another said she is "in her '80s sounding and looking better than anybody."
Fox News OutKick cast the LaBelle-Hudson pairing as a strong patriotic one-two punch before the Midsummer Classic and highlighted America 250 touches around Citizens Bank Park.
Yahoo also noted LaBelle has faced live scrutiny before, including a 2023 BET Awards tribute to Tina Turner when a blocked teleprompter left her struggling for lyrics; BET later said crowd enthusiasm obstructed the prompt.
For many viewers, the Patti LaBelle national anthem debate now sits at a familiar split: respect for a living legend versus distaste for stylistic liberties on a national symbol.