Can a 'Terrified' Christina Pull It Together for a Grammy Comeback?

By Rob Shuter Posted Feb 9th 2011 04:55PM

Christina Aguilera will try to shake off her disastrous Super Bowl performance with a tribute to Aretha Franklin at Sunday night's Grammy Awards. Sources close to the singer tell me she's still shaken up by her "Star-Mangled Banner" moment and prays this performance will offer her a chance at redemption with fans.

"This is a huge night for Christina so she's leaving nothing to chance," an insider tells me. "All the lyrics to her number will be in a TelePrompter at the event so it will be almost impossible for her to mess up again."

We all know the girl can hit the right notes (what a voice!), but it's good to know she's got a safety net for a little thing called lyrics.

Since her Super Bowl performance, Christina has come under fire from critics suggesting she has been spiraling out of control since she announced her divorce, and there were even some vicious reports that she might have had a few too many drinks before the big game. (Others still have suggested Xtina has been out of sorts since her last studio album, 'Bionic,' failed to sell.)

But as one of her biggest hits makes perfectly clear, Christina is a true "fighter" and will no doubt rebound from this setback.

"You would be a fool to count Christina out," a friend of the singer's tells me. "She has been down before and always found her way back. Sure, she's going through a lot and yes she is terrified, but mark my words, on Sunday when she opens the Grammys, no one will be talking about the Super Bowl anymore. This girl is in the to win it."

Ronn D. Torossian, president & CEO of 5W Public Relations, agrees, telling me, "Christina will recover, this was a mistake, not blatant disrespect. While this was a very high profile flub, in the annals of her career this will be seen as a footnote and not as the headline. This too shall pass, and she will absolutely recover."

After all, everyone is rooting for her. Jared Shapiro, executive editor of Life & Style, says, "'Burlesque,' the Super Bowl and Grammys -- if this is a down year, I can't wait to see her comeback!"

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

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Christina Aguilera Snapshots

Christina Aguilera sings the national anthem before 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. (Louis DeLuca/Dallas Morning News/MCT)

MCT

Dallas Morning News

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

Christina Aguilera sings the national anthem before the NFL football Super Bowl XLV game between withe Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Charlie Krupa)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

Singer Christina Aguilera stands on the field before the start of the NFL Super Bowl XLV football game between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Singer Christina Aguilera sings the national anthem during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Singer Christina Aguilera sings the national anthem during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Singer Christina Aguilera sings the national anthem during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Singer Christina Aguilera sings the National Anthem during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Singer Christina Aguilera sings the National Anthem during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Singer Christina Aguilera sings the national anthem during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Christina Aguilera Snapshots

Tags: Christina Aguilera, grammys

Comments

(77)

Wednesday 09 February

By Al's Office

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This is a non-story. Doesn't the press have something better to do than keep this lame story alive?

By Zero

I think they pick the biggest amateur on purpose, THAT THEY KNOW'LL MESS UP! Then they can act like they have balls to defend the silly song. Give the Steelers something to do.

By Judy

LOL, What, she's on "trial" for making a boo boo? Oh puleeeze!
She's the most awesome, gifted singer on the scene right now and had that wonderful set of pipes when she was a child. I'd rather she sang it straight up..ya know.. but still, what's the big deal about flubbing the words? Could happen to any of us.

By Bob

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The National Anthem, in my opinion, should be sung in a simple and dignified manner. Enough of this pop singer vocal stylization crap already!

By Lisa Green

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she isnt as *great* as she thinks she is, it was actually pure torture to listen to her performance at the superbowl..i think her voice died along with her marriage...she should try *normal* for a change, she isnt a black gospel singer...

By dwi55

She not only messed up the lyrics but she didnt hit the notes either. The gyrations were a little much. Maybe they should stick with Whitney, the best rendition ever!

By woodie kirkwood

not in my book, i don't care to even hear her name

By Crystal

First of all, yea maybe she messed up a few words to the National Anthem, but she isn't the first to do it. She is an extremely talented woman and her career will not end due to the fact she messed up on one performance. Second, for those who think the Star Spangled Banner is easy to sing ought to sit in front of a panel of professional singers, sing it, and listen to how much criticism they recieve. It is an extremely difficult song to sing, and it should be as it was written by a drunk man in a bar to an old bar tune. I, personally, believe America the Beautiful would be a better national anthem; it is more joyful and represents the "American Dream" well.

By cassnpatty

That was pretty bad. Christina is a great singer, but the vocal gymnastics were too much. They were distracting and took away from the beauty of the song. Maybe if the whole performance was better, her forgetting the lyrics wouldn't have been noticed as much.

By cchucklest1

we already know that she can sing. don't why she has to redeem herself. she made mistake. please you perfect people try to forgive her.

By Dean

Wonder how many people making a fuss about this know all the words to the Star Spangled Banner? Just asking.

Thursday 10 February

By Ken

Maybe if she had sang the Anthem to the tune it's supposed to be to, and not "own" the song, she wouldn't have screwed it up royally! The only other one I heard that sucked harder was Natlie Cole doing it once at a Falcons game. She butchered the Anthem so much, she left a puddle of blood on the field and the radio announcer apologized to the radio fans.

By Teresa

Christina DOESNT have to redeem herself. She had a bad day at work. Who doesnt have one every single week?

However: Christina has to understand something: she is aging. Her voice shouldnt be called upon to do all that screaming. She is a great singer and doesnt need to pull out all the bells, whistles and screams to impress us. Tone it down Christina. Wanna ruin your career? Keep up with the sexcapades so soon after ruining a marriage.

By Ketielynn

This little girl has a big beautiful voice...the kid can sing. I actually feel sorry for her, she messed up. I am sick of people saying she is un-patriotic because of that. I think she has sang it at least twice before at a superbowl and did just fine. She does seem to be going through some stuff in her personal life and I hope she can let this go. I can't imagine how nervous she will be at the next big performance. Good Luck Christina!

Friday 11 February

By psychogranny

She screwed it up badly, plain and simple. She obviously felt that practicing a song that almost every American kid can remember the lines to was above her. I am sick of celebs blaming divorce, nerves, bad hair days,etc. on their lack of caring.
She needs to stop trying to scream and wail and tone it down. That's why her last album failed. Go back to the early days of acoustic guitar singing. Quit trying to put a new twist on an old and beloved song. It was awful, period!

Thursday 24 February

By Jim Shelley

I know that the woman has incredible pipes, but I have never been able to get into her caterwauling type of singing that was so popular in the '80s and '90s.

Friday 25 February

By irishmary24

Christina, nothing is ruined. The people that like your music still do. A fall is a mishap that happens to everyone at some point or another. High heeled shoes and a rousing Aretha rendition will up the likelihood of tripping.
The national anthem- I don't think too many people like the Hollywood version of the National Anthem. A humble walk to the mic and a simple attempt is appreciated. I prefer and loved Smokey Robinson's rendition during the 86 World Series- it's on YouTube. He quietly walked to the mic across the ball field, and with piano playing, he used his beautiful voice to convey the meaning of that song, like few can do. You have a beautiful voice, Christina. A simple version would have been magnificent. You are young- wait til Kanye does something asinine, and all will be forgotten.

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