I wasn't drunk! LeAnn Rimes defends her bizarre duet with X Factor USA contestant Carly

LeAnn Rimes has dismissed claims she was drunk during her duet on the X Factor Wednesday night.
The country music star was skewered for out-singing 13-year-old contestant Carly Rose Sonenclar during a duet of her hit song How Do I Live, ending the performance by grabbing Carly's arm and throwing hair in her face.
But LeAnn baulked at the suggestion she was under the influence in a statement posted to her Twitter account, insisting it is 'a shame gossip and lies are overshadowing the performance of Carly, a very talented young girl.'
Scroll down for video

 

Who's competin? LeAnn Rimes out sang X Factor finalist Carly Rose Sonenclar on Wednesday night's show

 

The singer was quoted byTMZ on Thursday morning, apparently claiming she was trying to help Carly, who was having some trouble with the song.
While her lawyer issued a statement to the media outlet, LeAnn denied issuing a comment of her own.
She continued: 'In my 18 years of performing, I have never been anything but professional onstage...

 

More...

• 'Proud' Katy Perry congratulates ex-husband Russell Brand on his 10 years sobriety
• Does he want her back? Chris Brown posts loving picture taken with Rihanna just DAYS before their relationship came crashing down

'And while I have not given any media outlet a quote, if you want one, here it is "It was an amazing opportunity to share this experience with Carly and I know I’ll be watching for her to win tonight."'
Still, LeAnn missed some of the notes herself and botched some of the lyrics.
Her lawyer, Larry Stein, said he spoke to the singer n Thursday morning and echoed her denial about being under the influence.

 

A helping hand: LeAnn got some help navigating the X Factor set upon her arrival

 

Steady as she goes: The star leaned on a male companion as she took a step

 

Statement: LeAnn posted this message on Twitter Thursday morning amid speculation over her behaviour

 

 

'LeAnn was not performing the way she would normally perform, because she was on stage with a young girl.
'There have been a lot of untrue things said by others and it feeds into this sort of thing,' Mr Stein said.
UsWeekly reported the singer was sick during the show, perhaps accounting for her performance being 'off'.
But on stage, she hardly let on she was feeling under the weather.
Wearing a short black T-shirt dress and black boots, she hugged the big-voiced youngster as the pair belted out the song.

Bigger star: LeAnn was constantly trying to out perform the young contestant

 

Wild woman: LeAnn ended the wild performance by grabbing Carly's arm and throwing her hair in her face

 

'I love this girl so much, she is such an amazing talent,' she said, while the audience awarded them with a chorus of applause.
Carly Rose called the song 'one of the most fun moments I have had on stage.'
'They were shockingly amazing, so great' said Britney, who appeared to be in tears during the performance.
LeAnn, whose public affair with now husband Eddie Cibrian has caused her great personal strife, checked into rehab in August for 'anxiety and stress'.
The Northern Lights star recently spoke to late-night host Jay Leno about the 30 stint.
'I turned 30 this year and decided to go into treatment and take care of myself,' she said.

Me first: The country singer also threw her hair in the 13-year-old's face

 

Who's competing here? LeAnn has stated in the past that she would like to be judge on the show

 

 

Final plea: Carly was joined by hosts Mario Lopez and Khloe Kardashian as she pleaded for votes

 

'30 days for 30 years...I wanted to see that worked out for me.'
LeAnn reiterated that she was only treated for 'anxiety and stress' due to growing up in showbiz and her consequent 'very weird life'.
She also cited her affair with husband Eddie Cibrian, who left his wife Brandi Glanville for the star - married herself at the time to backing dancer Dean Sheremet.
'The last four years have been very compressed with stress...the affair, getting married.
'I didn't know how to deal with it so I wanted to take care of myself.'ow

 

 

Stealing the show: LeAnn arrives on the red carpet before her performance

Of course it wasn't long before the subject of Cibrian's ex-wife, with whom he shares two sons, came up.
However Rimes was decidedly tactful on the subject though she did joke that all the negative attention she gets from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi, 40, is 'flattering' in a weird way.
She said: 'I should feel flattered that she thinks I'm so interesting that I can be a storyline in her show.'

 

Finalists: Girl Group Fifth Harmony performed on the season finale, night one on Wednesday night

 

Country crooner: Top three contestant Tate Stevens (C) and Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town

 

 

 

Comeback: Top 10 contestants Jennel Garcia, left, and Vino Alan, right, were also invited back to perform

 

Simon Cowell favourite: There was an upset when top 10 contestant Emblem3 was ousted last week