Nick Cannon - Cannon: 'Mariah Gave It Her All For Jackson'

NICK CANNON has assured wife MARIAH CAREY her emotional performance at MICHAEL JACKSON's memorial was perfect, insisting there was no way she could have prepared to sing for her late pal.

Carey publicly apologised for her shaky rendition of Jackson 5 hit I'll Be There at Tuesday's service (07Jul09), blaming herself for "letting everybody down" as she battled to hold back tears.

But actor/rapper Cannon was impressed by his partner's bravery.

He tells news show Access Hollywood, "It's one of those things where nervous isn't even a word because no one is ever prepared or emotionally or physically to be able to go on stage whether it's one person or one million people.

"You're never prepared to go up and have to sing and at the same time mourn a friend. You never know what's going to happen. It's definitely one of those things where we just said a prayer, you know, left it all in God's hands and let it happen."

Carey was the first singer to take the stage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles as the city came to a standstill to mourn the King of Pop's sudden death following a cardiac arrest on 25 June (09).