Martha Reeves' national anthem performance at Women’s Pro Baseball League game goes viral
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 2, 2026, 6:26 PM
Last updated Aug 2, 2026
The Women’s Pro Baseball League began its inaugural season on August 2, 2026, with the New York Heights facing the Los Angeles Queens in Springfield, Illinois. The game, resulting in a 10-8 win for the Queens, was almost overshadowed by a national anthem performance by 85-year-old singer Martha Reeves. Her rendition of the 'Star-Spangled Banner' sparked significant reactions online, as viewers noted her shaky delivery and struggles with the song's high notes, drawing parallels to other criticized performances. Social media users shared mixed responses, with some defending Reeves while others highlighted the challenges of singing the anthem.
- •Martha Reeves performed the anthem before the league's first game.
- •The game featured the New York Heights against the Los Angeles Queens.
- •Queens won the game 10-8, marking a historic event.
- •Reeves' performance became a viral subject on social media.
- •Reeves is known as the lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas.
- 6:26 PMYahoo Sports — National anthem performance at inaugural Women’s Pro Baseball League game goes viral for all the wrong reasons
"85-year-old Motown singer Martha Reeves performed the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ at the historic women’s baseball game
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