Super Bowl XLV 2011: Christina Aguilera Slaughters National Anthem with Last Reaming

I love watching the Super Bowl, though I am not particularly drawn to the game itself. However, I will not miss the Opening Ceremony and Super Bowl XLV 2011 was no different.

I watch the Super Bowl to hear our National Anthem.

As the smartly dressed military Honor Guard marched in the colors, presented arms, and saluted sharply, the announcer respectfully declared,

"And now...to honor America...five-time Grammy award winner...Christina Aguilera!"

After a quick little finger wave, Ms. Aguilera began to sing our nation's anthem a cappella.

"Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?" she began.

I sang along, as she continued, "Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight..."

I could not believe what I heard next. No matter how loudly I tried to coach her on the lyrics through the television, Christina Aguilera slaughtered the words to the anthem by singing, "...what so proudly we watched at the twilight's last reaming..."

"...twilight's last reaming...?" Oh, NO, Christina!

The words are, "O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming!"

I am not a celebrity. I am not a multi-million dollar Grammy winner. Few people know my name.

However, having been a military musician and singer, I have performed the National Anthem many times in front of many thousands of people. Since leaving the military, I have sung the anthem a cappella for a variety of events.

As an American, it is an honor to be asked to sing our country's anthem at any event. As a performer, I also understand the need for artistic expression. Though I choose to sing the anthem free from vocal embellishment, I recognize that others' renditions may be very different than mine.

Embellished or not, when accepting the invitation, a singer also accepts the responsibility to perform the anthem with respect and reverence. It requires preparation, practice, and remaining calm enough to represent this country in the best possible light.

I know firsthand just how difficult it can be to sing this song. I know how nerve-wracking it can be to sing in front of tens of thousands of people. I know the anticipation of forgetting the words to our National Anthem. I know sheer fear in those moments immediately before opening my mouth to sing the first note, knowing full well that others will notice it if my voice cracks.

For as many times as I have sung the anthem, I am not free from having made mistakes. Yes, I have even stumbled over the words once or twice. I have felt the pangs of disappointment, shame, and humiliation for having done so.

And for as many times as Aguilera has sung the anthem with perfection, Super Bowl XLV 2011 was not one of them.

This is one performance which will be revisited many times and Aguilera's critics will get as much play time as possible, thanks to the Internet and other social media. Her embarrassing moment will be relived and criticized many times before it will be forgotten or replaced.

So much for Christina Aguilera's "last reaming."