To friends of Christina Aguilera, her national anthem mishap at last night's Super Bowl wasn't a case of nerves.
It was just the latest example of a human being in desperate need of help.
Aguilera has had a rough yer. Her latest studio album tanked; reviews for Burlesque were less than kind; she divorced Jordan Bratman in the fall of 2010 and quickly started up with Matthew Rutler, someone her associates believe is a shady rebound.
Since then, racy photos of the artist were leaked online and sources say she passed out in Jeremy Renner's bedroom at the actor's 40th birthday party.
"Christina's drinking has some of her friends worried," an insider tells In Touch Weekly. "She seems to be getting out of control, and her friends want her to get PROFESSIONAL help. The past few weeks, her partying has escalated."
That was not the case at the Super Bowl, however. Witnesses say Aguilera hung around for the beginning of the contest, but quickly left for the airport, skipping all post-game events and looking "visibly upset" over her lyrical mistake.