Canadian singer apologizes for U.S. anthem botch

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, May 20 (UPI) -- A Canadian jazz singer apologized for botching the U.S. national anthem at the Memorial Cup junior ice hockey game in Saskatchewan.

Alexis Normand said she had been asked the day before the Saturday game to learn the Star-Spangled Banner to perform at the Western Hockey League game between Nova Scotia's Halifax Mooseheads and Oregon's Portland Winterhawks at Credit Union Center in Saskatoon, the Toronto Star reported Monday.

"I'm usually a quick study and I've been learning songs for a long time. I had learned all the lyrics, but nerves just got the best of me and I got really nervous and it all unwound from there," Normand said.

She said the crowd rescued her from the situation by joining in to help her finish the song.

"I'm embarrassed and deeply sorry. I wish I'd had more time to learn the American anthem," Normand tweeted after the game.