Over the years the growing celebrity deficit in America has led to the proliferation of TikTok stars, podcasters and social media influencers as modern-day celebs. And that has led the Cubs to invite more people like Cooper, who is popular with her legion of followers but doesn\u2019t have the same mass appeal with Cubs fans \u2014 or, apparently, Cardinals fans.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year the Cubs invited podcaster\/comedian Theo Von, who similarly used a weird voice while singing in an apparent attempt at being funny. The \u201cD-list\u201d movie and TV stars who once dominated the list of stretch singers at Wrigley typically weren\u2019t booed for being bad singers.<\/p>\n
Cooper\u2019s performance Monday was being compared to the worst ever at Wrigley, a list that includes Mike Ditka, Ozzy Osbourne and NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon<\/a>, though many fans enjoyed Ditka\u2019s rushed performance<\/a> and Osbourne\u2019s obliviousness<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Cubs have been sensitive to criticism of their definition of \u201ccelebrity.\u201d Before the 2013 season they said they would try to upgrade the guest list.<\/p>\n \u201cI do think we want to get A-listers,\u201d a Cubs spokesperson said at the time. \u201cSo if there is a celebrity in a movie \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cBut we want them to understand what they\u2019re coming to do \u2014 not just come into the broadcast booth and to (promote something). They should know something about the Cubs. They should know the background of Harry Caray and what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cubs eventually stopped letting the guests stay in the TV booth to talk about themselves after it became apparent many had no interest in the Cubs or baseball in general.<\/p>\n When Caray died during spring training in 1998, it stirred much debate over how the Cubs should handle the stretch. Pitcher Kevin Foster said at the time: \u201cEverybody should just keep singing the song with the organ playing and without any tape. I don\u2019t think it should be stopped. We should keep the legacy going for Harry.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cubs decided to continue the stretch with guest performers. Shortly after Caray\u2019s funeral, they asked his widow, Dutchie Caray<\/a>, what she thought of the idea.<\/p>\n \u201cI said, \u2018Whatever,’\u201d she told the Tribune.<\/p>\n![\"Ozzy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CTC-L-CUBS_9c8874.jpg\")
Ozzy Osbourne and his wife, Sharon, perform “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch at a Cubs-Dodgers game Aug. 17, 2003, at Wrigley Field. (Jos\u00e9 M. Osorio\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n