Christina Aguilera Botches National Anthem at Super Bowl, Admits Mistake

By Rob Shuter Posted Feb 6th 2011 07:04PM

Christina Aguilera Sings National Anthem at Super Bowl XLV

Christina Aguilera, always a pro singing the national anthem, couldn't make it through 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before the kickoff of Super Bowl XLV. Aguliera, who has handled the task without issue before NBA games, botched the lyrics badly halfway through the song.

Instead of "O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming" turned into "what so proudly we watched at the twilight's last [unintelligable lyric]."

Luckily, Aguilera had the quick, crowd-rousing "rocket's red glare" line to follow it up, which she nailed and got the packed Cowboys Stadium quickly on her side.

Still, our eyewitnesses in Dallas tell us that the crowd had some drastic reactions. "This was the biggest performance of her career and she blew it," a source with a VIP view tells me. "To mess up the lyrics was a disaster."

Surprised Such a Pro Got It Wrong? React on Facebook

Another source tells us the televised roars of the crowds weren't as loud in person. "A hush fell over the stadium and everyone was looking at each other."

After 'The Star-Spangled Banner' wrapped, Aguilera headed backstage where a source tells me that the singer was "devastated." She knows she messed up big time. It's an honor to be asked, and she let America and herself down. She didn't want anyone around her. Everyone was telling her she was great, but she knows the truth, says the source.

PopEater got the word on the street about Christina's Super Bowl performance -- check it out:

Update: Aguilera has addressed her performance in a statement to the Associated Press. "I got so caught up in the moment of the song that I lost my place. I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through," she said.

Cheer up, Christina. Your voice sounded as amazing as ever.

Maybe it was the pressure of the big game. After all, Aguilera got the lyrics spot on during her take on the anthem at last year's NBA Finals. Want proof? Watch below:

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http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

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Christina Aguilera Snapshots

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Singer Christina Aguilera attends the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLV Pregame Show at Dallas Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Singer Christina Aguilera performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLV Pregame Show at Dallas Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

Christina Aguilera prepares to sing the National Anthem at the start of Super Bowl XLV where the Green Bay Packers face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, February 6, 2011. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

Tags: Christina Aguilera

Comments

(3343)

Monday 07 February

By Robert

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She sux... Dumb Wh0re... She sounded like she had my d1ck in her mouff... What a H0-bag

By it's me

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No one really remembers the extraordinary singers that pulloff a great anthem, but we tend to never forget to ones that butcher it, like Carl Lewis, Rosanne, and now Cristina (I look more like Cyndi Lauper) Aguilera. Damn she used to be hot, but not anymore..

By Debbie

It must have been very important to her, hence the flub. I'm sure she knows the words, and I'm sure she practiced, she just got a case of nerves. Happens to the best of us. She made a great recovery, finished the anthem beautifully like the pro she is. And she sang it live. So she made a mistake - it was a real, authentic mistake.

By Channy

I remember whitney houston real well back in 87 or 88 because it was the greatest and gave me chills. This one was so disgraceful and with the troops watching over seas made it even worse

By Team Taur

Guess you all are not sports fans, but ima sports fan and a NY Giants fan.

I say that to say, Houston sang the Star Spangled Banner for superbowl XXV(Bills/Gmen) in tampa bay, backed by the tampa bay orchestra with the gulf war in full swing....
...not in san diego. that was superbowl xxii and it was PERFORMED by a trumpeter- Herb Alpert.

Lets get it right ppl. L8'er!

Friday 04 March

By Paris 70

She's a phenomenal singer. I went & listened to her other performances of the Anthem. omg. She sung so beautiful-she sung the stars off the flag! I'm sick of the bashing-She's not Jesus-she made a mistake! Imagine how bad she feels. I loved it anyway-mistake and all.

By ebreit19

Whintey Houston did the most inspiring and unforgetable version ever heard.

By Glenn

If you are going to sing the national anthem...........do it RIGHT! Great voice, but making the song "yours" by re-arranging the melody seldom works............it never works if you screw up the words.

By Randy

NO! You don't remember the ones that pulled it off greatly. But, any performer should! If she INTENTIONALLY screwed it up for more press she should be deported. That would be akin to deliberately burning or pissing even on our flag. Singing the National Anthem is a position of Honor, and all personal ideas should take a back seat to the opportunity you have been given by your fellow Americans. I'd have rather seen a 4th grade Color Guard do it right than a good singer do it wrong.

By Judy

Our country's National Anthem was not written to be jazzed up like singers are doing it everyday.If they would just sing it like it was written maybe people would remember who sang it and where or for what event. I personally would not want to remember who screwed it up the worst. Other country's do not sing their anthems in any other manner than was written.

By joan

Sorry but Aguilara is a professional who sings in front of thousands of people at a concert and her not correctly knowing the national anthem is not right. If she were so afraid she should never accepted the honor of singing the song, especially knowing it was going to be viewed by millions of people in addition to those at the super bowl.

By Jack

Yeah -- like nobody else has ever screwed up the national anthem. AOL's reporting is biased.

By Bob a vet from Boston

Aguilara ? Disgusting , disrespectful. Who screens these losers singing our national anthem ?

By dreannp

Amen to that, Lily!
Her rendition was totally moving, flub and all.
YOU GO Christina!

By Mike

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Whitney was one of the best but second to a young lady I heard at a home football game a few years ago, don't know her name but as great as Whitney was this girl put her to shame and I have a tape of whitney that I love. To nite alets just say memories fade luckly for CA

By wydbma

it should be about this country and the history with pride, not about how many pitch changes she can do.I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via agegapsin gles.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it

By Peg

Quote pps: "that was a horrible performance. when did our standards drop so low? poor thing. i feel sorry for her, but that was the worst version of the national anthem i have ever heard".+++++ Then again, there WAS Roseann, but that's a whole other ballgame ;}

By MaryLou

Rose, she did not do just fine-she did not know the words. Duh!

By crutch

whitney lip synced it.

By freedkalashnikov

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She should be kicked out of the country. Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

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