Fans are criticizing legendary R&B singer Patti LaBelle for her dissatisfaction with the playing of the national anthem to open the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in her hometown of Philadelphia.
The 82-year-old two-time Grammy Award winner had the honor of singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 96th Midsummer Classic before a packed crowd at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night – just five miles from Independence Hall and a little more than a week after the nation’s 250th anniversary.
LaBelle seemed to drop a few words along the way and dragged out the anthem longer than most during her performance, but made her way across home plate with her chant before the first pitch of the game.
Following the performance, the singer’s rendition of “Lady Marmalade” went viral, with some calling it “disrespectful” and others criticizing the “Godmother of Soul” for putting her own spin on America’s most beloved song.
“It was terrible. Completely disrespectful to our anthem,” one angry fan wrote on X along with a video of the performance.
“Patti LaBelle is one of our greatest singers, but I don’t understand why people think they need to add their own spin to the national anthem. Leave it alone. It wasn’t meant to be sung fluently or ‘made your own,'” another critic wrote.
“It was terrible, they couldn’t bring back yesterday’s singer?? What a shame for the soldiers who fight for the country,” wrote another unimpressed fan.
While many were unhappy with the Philadelphia native, who was one of the most popular artists of the 1960s and 1970s, some fans came to LaBelle’s defense by canceling the iconic singer’s performance.
Legendary R&B singer Patti LaBelle is facing backlash online for performing the national anthem to kick off the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. STEPHEN M. FALK/EPA/Shutterstock
Singer Patti LaBelle performs the national anthem before the MLB Baseball All-Star Game between the American League and National League on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Matt Rourke
“She’s had a pretty long career so I won’t hate on her, but it’s still not a great anthem,” one user wrote on X.
“Patti is 82 years old and a legend. How many people on this app could do what she just did without sounding like a dying whale? She did an amazing job,” wrote another.
Despite the criticism she faced online, after the anthem, red and white fireworks exploded into the sky around the stadium and thousands of fans burst into applause as the performance was closed off by a military overpass.
Some called the performance “disrespectful,” while others criticized “Godmother of Soul” for putting her own spin on America’s most beloved song. Getty Images
LaBelle performing at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, Illinois on September 28, 1978. Getty Images
The Philadelphia native was one of the most popular artists of the 1960s and 1970s. AP Photo/Matt Rourke
While LaBelle’s performance didn’t go over well with fans, Jennifer Hudson, who sang “God Bless America” just before the anthem, seemed to knock it out of the park, with Americans flooding social media to admire the EGOT-winning singer’s performance of one of the country’s most beloved patriotic songs.
“Jennifer’s voice hits me like a burst of national energy,” one user wrote on X.
“Jennifer Hudson never misses a live performance. You can always count on her to make the big moment even bigger,” wrote another.
Jennifer Hudson performs “America the Beautiful” before the MLB Baseball All-Star Game between the American League and National League on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Anthem controversy aside, there was no shortage of patriotism for the rest of the evening.
The league paid tribute to the iconic Fourth of July fireworks scene from the classic 1993 film “The Sandlot” during the fifth inning pause.
Ray Charles’s iconic “America the Beautiful” echoed through the stadium as kids wearing Phillies jerseys peered through the goal along the right-hand line, swung it open, and motioned for other kids riding bikes to join them.
“Old Glory” blazed on every screen in the stadium as kids proudly marched to the center of the infield and tossed their bikes.
Players from both teams lined their dugouts with what looked like sparklers, and select players, including Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh, took the field with fans.
Some children exchanged baseball cards with players while Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman played catch with a young fan.
In honor of one of America’s favorite baseball movies, play resumed with the American League ultimately winning 4–0.