Martha Reeves Tried to Cut Backup Singers Before Viral National Anthem Performance

At the first-ever Women’s Professional Baseball League game last Saturday in Springfield, Illinois, Martha Reeves delivered a version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that quickly circulated online for its unconventional delivery. The 85-year-old Motown icon appeared with a small vocal backing group at Robin Roberts Stadium, but video from a rehearsal obtained by TMZ shows she had little interest in sharing the spotlight.

In the rehearsal footage, Reeves stops the singers to tell one she’s out of tune. Through the stadium microphone, her voice is then heard clearly: “I don’t think I need them. I don’t need them.” The moment of candor, paired with the eventual performance, fueled the clip’s spread.

Reeves addressed the attention in a statement. “Having just celebrated my 85th birthday, I’ve learned a great deal over more than 60 years of performing live,” she said, calling the invitation an honor. She pointed to wet, windy field conditions and the absence of stage monitors as reasons the performance fell short of her own standards. “While it wasn’t the performance I had hoped for, I’m grateful to have been there in support of these remarkable athletes and this groundbreaking league.”

The incident adds an unvarnished chapter to the long history of anthems that become cultural moments—and a reminder that even seasoned performers prefer to carry the room alone.