Carey rep: Technical problems bungle show

Carey rep: Technical problems bungle show

NEW YORK

After a brief, flawless “Auld Lang Syne,” it was all downhill for Mariah Carey on New Year’s Eve.

A representative for the million-selling superstar cited technical difficulties for a disastrous appearance on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” which aired on ABC and was the subject of widespread mockery on social media.

Carey’s mood seemed to range from frustration to resignation as she struggled with the pre-recorded musical tracks. Telling the revelers jammed into Times Square that there had not been a sound check for her hit song “Emotions,” she lamented that “we’re missing some of these vocals, but it is what it is.”

“Let the audience sing,” she decided as she paced the stage.

“I’m trying to be a good sport here,” she said, adding her own sarcastic review of the performance. “That was ... amazing.”

Queen misses church due to ‘heavy cold’

LONDON

Queen Elizabeth II missed a traditional New Year’s Day church service Sunday because of the effects of a lingering cold.

Buckingham Palace said the queen “does not yet feel ready to attend church as she is still recuperating from a heavy cold.” There was no indication she is suffering from a more serious illness.

Elizabeth, 90, also missed the Christmas church service last week for the first time in decades. She is recuperating out of the public eye in one of her favorite homes.

Associated Press