Martha Reeves blames viral botched US National Anthem performance on backing singers, attempts it again on live TV

Martha Reeves has blamed a recent botched performance of the US National Anthem on her backing singers. The Motown legend performed ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at the inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League game at the Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, earlier this month. The clip, which you can watch below and here, went viral at the time for all the wrong reasons. She later shared a statement to TMZ saying: “Having just celebrated my 85th birthday, I’ve learned a great deal over more than 60 years of performing live. It was an incredible honour to be invited to perform at the inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League event and to help celebrate such a historic moment for women in sports. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” Absolutely nothing could have prepared me for the national anthem at the first Women’s Pro Baseball League tonight pic.twitter.com/3lEYRYNQTi — Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) August 2, 2026 “The field conditions were wet and windy, and without stage monitors I wasn’t able to hear myself as I normally would,” she added. “While it wasn’t the performance I had hoped for, I’m grateful to have been there in support of these remarkable a...