Mariah Carey Apologizes For Jackson Memorial Performance, Says She Was Choking Back Tears
Mariah Carey has apologized to fans for what she considers a sub par performance of the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” at the Michael Jackson memorial concert on July 7th at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. The singer took to her Twitter to explain to fans that she was so overcome with grief that her emotions affected her ability to sing, Us Weekly. Video of Carey’s “I’ll Be There” performance is above. reports
(Check out photos from Michael Jackson’s all-star memorial.)
“Trying to sing today was basically impossible for me,” she writes. “I could barely keep myself from crying. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to pull it together and really do it right, but I was literally choked up when I saw him there in front of me. One thing I know is, we will never really have to say goodbye to MJ. His legacy lives on through his music and the millions of people. He inspired with his timeless music. He will be forever in our hearts.”
While it’s true that Carey’s performance at the memorial doesn’t match the “I’ll Be There” from her 1992 MTV Unplugged, she does genuinely seem emotionally overwhelmed while singing at the Jackson memorial, especially with Jackson’s casket spotlighted right in front of her as she and Trey Lorenz duet on the song. “I am heartbroken. My prayers go out to the Jackson family,and my heart goes out to his children. Let us remember him for his unparalleled contribution to the world of music, his generosity of spirit in his quest to heal the world & the joy he brought to his millions of devoted fans throughout the world. I feel blessed to have performed with him several times & to call him my friend,” Carey wrote hours after Jackson’s death on June 25th. “No artist will ever take his place. His star will shine forever.”
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