Ingrid Andress Has An Interesting Connection To Minnesota

She's been in the news for her recent version of the National Anthem, but did you know she has a distinct connection to Minnesota?

Minnesota has had its share of famous musicians

When it comes to the musical spotlight, Minnesota is most often associated with Prince, right? And, of course, there's Bob Dylan, too. And Lizzo, who called Minnesota home back in 2011 when she was starting her pop career.

Several other artists call Minnesota home, too, like Owl City (Adam Young) from Owatonna, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer (and Will Ferrel look-alike) Chad Smith, who's from St. Paul.

But when it comes to other genres, like country music, it's tougher to find artists connected to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. A notable exception is Cannon Falls native Caitlyn Smith, a successful songwriter (she's written hit songs for Meghan Trainor and John Legend, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton and others) and solo artist who released her second album in 2020.

ALSO INTERESTING: The Song Garth Brooks Wrote About Minnesota

Another country star in the news has a distinct connection to Minnesota

But this singer has also had several number-one hits, and just grabbed headlines for her off-key version of the National Anthem, which she performed before the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby Monday night in Seattle. But she's also connected to the Bold North.

She's Ingrid Andress, a four-time Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter who's had hit songs like 'Wishful Drinking' in 2022 or her debut single, 'More Hearts Than Mine' which topped the charts in 2020. But it was her cringy version of the National Anthem that put her in the spotlight. Here's how it sounded:

Social media went into overdrive, with various people commenting on how that might just have been the worst version of the Star-Spangled Banner ever. (And many other much more mean comments, as well.) But Ingrid released a statement on her socials Tuesday in which she apologized, and explained what happened:

What is Ingrid Andress' connection to Minnesota?

Well, as it turns out, Igrid's parents apparently live right here in Minnesota. In Grand Marais, to be exact. She mentioned this tidbit recently while opening for Keith Urban's 'Speed of Now Tour,' which played its final date at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul in November of 2022.

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During her set, Ingrid mentioned that her two sisters were in the audience, along with her parents who "made the drive down to St. Paul from Grand Marais." That fact was confirmed by this 2021 Star Tribune story about her Grammy nominations-- and how her folks will be watching the show from their home along Minnesota's North Shore.

Now, it appears that Ingrid herself hasn't ever lived in here in the North Star State. Her online bios notes that she was born in Michigan, grew up in Colorado, and has lived in Nashville. And we don't know when or why it was that her folks moved here, either. But, chalk up another musical connection for Minnesota!

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