AceShowbiz - Ingrid Andress' career hit an unexpected nadir during the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby, but the country singer has spun her most public failure into a profound personal revival. Speaking in her first interview since the incident, she revealed how hitting rock bottom on a national stage pushed her to confront her struggles with alcohol and regain control of her life.

The 33-year-old noted that her performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" last July in Arlington, Texas, was the "worst moment" of her life. Andress admitted to being "drunk" during the performance, which resulted in a pitchy, shaky rendition that quickly went viral.

"Whoever that was is not an accurate representation of who I am at all. You got to see me in my worst moment, so now, everything from here will be great," Andress told Rolling Stone.

The aftermath of the performance was brutal for Andress, who became the subject of widespread ridicule online. "It felt very extreme for what the situation was," she said, comparing being at the receiving end of the overwhelming backlash to being a "punching bag." She lamented, "But I didn't commit a crime.."

Despite her team's efforts to shield her from the negative comments, Andress felt compelled to acknowledge her error and seek help. "I'm not gonna bulls*** y'all, I was drunk last night. I'm checking myself into a facility today to get the help I need."

Hours after making her public apology, Andress checked into a treatment facility where she spent over a month mending her relationship with alcohol and coming to terms with other personal grievances.

"I felt so much like an object that it just didn't matter. I had completely missed the plot," she said, explaining her previous reliance on alcohol to "numb" herself. However, she had never let drinking affect her career until that fateful day.

Support from fellow artists like Elle King and Kelsea Ballerini helped Andress navigate her difficult period. After rehab, she spent six months in her native Colorado reconnecting with her true self. "I feel like I've gotten to know myself again, which is probably the biggest gift of all of it," Andress said.

Her journey back to the spotlight began with another National Anthem performance, this time at a Colorado Avalanche hockey game on February 28, which was met with positive reactions.

She also released a new single, "Footprints," on March 3, writing that it is a "reminder to all the people I love the most, and also to myself, that I'm out here trying my best at this 'life' thing."