Mariah Carey seemed to struggle through her performance at Michael Jackson’s memorial service Tuesday because, she says, her emotions got the best of her.

I think that was pretty much obvious to us all, but Mimi still felt the need to apologize. She said,

“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. 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.”

I think Mariah was definitely doing her best but was genuinely upset. As for, say, Usher, as a reader pointed out, he did seem superficial, especially at the end of his performance where he took off his shades, as if to show the world he was weeping. His little “choked-up” pause at the end seemed a little fake too. The first thing I though of when he did that was, “Is he trying to make the end of this song like Jackson’s ‘She’s Out of My Life’ or what?”

[SP]