First Women’s Professional Baseball National Anthem Has Fans Reeling
on Aug 02, 2026
Martha Reeves Goes Viral For Shaky National Anthem Performance
Motown legend Martha Reeves is making headlines after her performance of the national anthem at the opening game of the Women’s Pro Baseball League drew widespread attention online.
The lead singer of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Reeves performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Saturday (August 1) at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, as the league launched its inaugural season.
The opening matchup featured the Los Angeles Queens taking on the New York Heights. The Queens defeated the Heights in a 10-8 finish.
Reeves Performance Quickly Goes Viral
Joined by two backup singers, Reeves delivered the anthem that quickly became a topic of heated discussion on social media. Critics took to social media to share their thoughts on the performance.
A clip shared on X has reportedly gained more than 9 million views as users continue debating the viral moment.
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
Who Is Martha Reeves?
Reeves rose to fame as the frontwoman of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, known for Motown classics including “Dancing in the Street.” She became one of the defining voices of the 1960s Motown era that helped shape the sound of Detroit soul music.
The group was one of Motown’s biggest acts during the 1960s and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Outside of music, Reeves entered politics and served on the Detroit City Council from 2005 to 2009.
