Beyonce is not the source of the off-key wailing heard on a recording that made everyone's ears bleed on Tuesday, it's emerged.

An alleged "board mix" from the singer's performance on America's The Today Show was played by Howard Stern on his radio show on Wednesday, and the audio quickly circulated the internet.

Beyonce's father Matthew quickly jumped to his daughter's defence, branding anyone who believed the "altered" recording to be his daughter an "idiot".

And then the faker behind the recording came forward to admit it was all a prank that went too far.

The unnamed hoaxer tells TMZ: "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."

But Beyonce isn't too bruised by the practical joke - insisting she will prove her talents with another performance on the Today show on Thursday.

She said: "Everyone's heard me sing and it's perfect timing, actually, because I'll be on the Today show tomorrow singing Halo, or tonight you can watch me sing live on David Letterman!

 "It's perfect promotion, whoever came up with that idea."