Mariah Carey Apologizes For Emotional Performance During Jackson Memorial

 
 
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  • Mariah Carey performs ‘I’ll Be There’ at the Michael Jackson public memorial at Staples Center, Los Angeles, July 7, 2009
  • Mariah Carey performs at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles
  • Paris Jackson takes the stage to speak at her father’s public memorial service in LA, July 7, 2009
  • Randy Jackson hugs Prince Michael I at the public memorial for Michael Jackson, July 7, 2009

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  • Getty Images

    Mariah Carey performs ‘I’ll Be There’ at the Michael Jackson public memorial at Staples Center, Los Angeles, July 7, 2009

  • Getty Images

    Mariah Carey performs at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles

  • Getty Images

    Paris Jackson takes the stage to speak at her father’s public memorial service in LA, July 7, 2009

  • Getty Images

    Randy Jackson hugs Prince Michael I at the public memorial for Michael Jackson, July 7, 2009

 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: July 8, 2009 3:14 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: July 8, 2009 3:26 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Like millions of Michael Jackson fans watching around the world, Mariah Carey was swept up by emotion on Tuesday during the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles – and the singer took to her Twitter account apologizing for her rocky performance.

“Just recovering from the day. Still filled w/sadness as we listen to KJLH in LA(Stevie Wonder’s radio station)paying tribute to MJ,” she Tweeted on Tuesday, following the memorial where she sang the Jackson 5 classic, “I’ll Be There.”

“Trying to sing today was basically impossible for me. 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,” Mariah continued.

Despite her shaky performance, Mariah told her almost one million Twitter followers that the world will never have to say farewell to the King of Pop.

“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,” she wrote. “He inspired with his timeless music. He will be forever in our hearts.”

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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