The singer was forced to defend her vocal abilities after controversial US radio DJ Howard Stern played an off-key version of her screeching and wailing through her song 'If I Were A Boy', which he claimed was recorded on American TV programme 'The Today Show' last year.

Beyonce insisted: "Everyone's heard me sing - I can sing. Anyway, whoever came up that idea has given me some perfect promotion. It's perfect timing, actually, because I'll be on 'The Today Show' this week singing 'Halo'."

Beyonce's manager, her father Mathew Knowles, and said: "At 12 years into her career, the last thing someone should be questioning is her vocal ability. That would be like questioning if Kobe Bryant could shoot a jump shot.

"If no one took the time to watch the biggest inauguration in the history of America then shame on them. If no one took the time to listen to Beyonce sing 'America the Beautiful' and 'At Last' at the Neighborhood Ball for the first dance of President Barack Obama and the First Lady, and then question Beyonce's vocal ability, they've got to be an idiot."

Gossip website TMZ has since revealed the recording was a joke, made by a person who never expected it to be made public.

The hoaxer admitted: "It's a little bit crazy. No one in their right mind would sound like that, and no one would cheer for someone singing like that."