Patti LaBelle Draws Backlash for Anthem at 96th MLB All-Star Game as Jennifer Hudson Wins Praise

Q: Amidst Philadelphia's celebration, which league won the All-Star Game and who earned the coveted MVP award?

It is not yet possible to say which league won the 2026 MLB All-Star Game or who was named MVP based on the provided material. The news story and supporting search content describe the Philadelphia event’s patriotic atmosphere, performances by Jennifer Hudson and Patti LaBelle, and fan festivities, but they do not include the final result of the main 2026 MLB All-Star Game or its Most Valuable Player. The additional material explicitly indicates the game had not yet been played at the time that content was produced, noting it was a preview with MVP odds and predictions rather than final results. One related result is available: in the 2026 All-Star Futures Game, the American League beat the National League 6-1, and Nathan Flewelling earned MVP honors. But that was the Futures Game, not the MLB All-Star Game itself.

Q: Following their national showcase, how many HBCU Swingman Classic players were selected in the 2026 MLB Draft?

One HBCU Swingman Classic player was selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, based on the provided reporting. The available draft-related detail identifies Michael Smith Jr. as the lone confirmed selection. He was taken in the 13th round by the San Diego Padres after appearing in the HBCU Swingman Classic, the All-Star Week showcase created to give top HBCU players exposure to MLB scouts. While the broader background notes that 10 Swingman Classic participants have been drafted cumulatively since the event began, the material tied specifically to the 2026 draft names only Smith. On that basis, the answer is one.

3 articles · Updated · New York Post · Jul 15

82-year-old Patti LaBelle drew online criticism after her national anthem at the 96th MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia appeared to drop words and stretch the song unusually long.
Fan posts on X called the rendition "disrespectful" and over-stylized, though some defended LaBelle as a legend and said the hometown singer still deserved grace.
Jennifer Hudson, who sang "God Bless America" just before LaBelle, was widely praised on social media, with users calling her performance powerful and reliable live.
Philadelphia's pregame and in-game pageantry still leaned heavily patriotic, with fireworks, a military flyover and a fifth-inning Sandlot tribute before the American League won 4-0.