Major League Baseball fans criticized Patti LaBelle’s beautiful rendition of the National Anthem at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in her hometown of Philadelphia.
The 82-year-old R&B legend belted out the Star-Spangled Banner before a packed crowd at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday evening.
According to the NY Post’s Page Six, Patti changed words and “dragged out the anthem longer than most during the performance”.
Black people cherish Patti’s gospel-style vocal runs and high notes to the moon. But White baseball fans don’t appreciate the iconic singer’s incredible vocal range.
Following the performance, baseball fans took to X to blast the “Lady Marmalade” singer’s rendition as “terrible” and “completely disrespectful”.
One person wrote: “It was horrible. Completely disrespectful to our anthem.”
Another baseball fan wrote: “That was terrible, couldn’t bring back the singer from yesterday?? What an embarrassment for the troops who fight for the country.”
A third person commented: “Patti LaBelle is one of our greatest singers, however why people think they have to add their own twist to the National Anthem boggles my mind. Leave it alone. It was not meant to be sung with runs or ‘making it your own.'”
But Patti’s lifelong fans defended the “Godmother of Soul.”
One fan wrote: “Patti is 82 and a legend. How many people on this app could do what she just did and not sound like a dying whale? She did a fabulous job.”
Another person wrote: “She is an 82-year-old living legend and a national treasure. Let’s calm down and show some respect to a diva!”
Patti LaBelle delivers an incredible performance of the national anthem ahead of the 2026 #AllStarGame ?? pic.twitter.com/GwIxWG3Pk8
— MLB (@MLB) July 15, 2026
I didn't care for her changing the word "free" to "flag" but its much ado about nothing. She still sings better than me but I gotta admit I sure miss Whitney – the most powerful and beautiful voice to ever sing the national anthem.
— martytime (@martin_lulofs) July 15, 2026