Maybe someone forgot to put fresh batteries in Jason Aldean‘s microphone, because the singer’s voice went silent during his duet performance of ‘Don’t You Wanna Stay’ at the 2012 Grammy Awards on Sunday night. What started as a wonderful collaboration became an awkward moment that Aldean and Kelly Clarkson managed to make the most of.

Aldean began the song in his trademark straw cowboy hat and a pinstriped suit. Clarkson emerged looking radiant as she joined him during the first chorus. The pop singer fought sound issues herself, and her voice remained much softer than Aldean’s until halfway through the song, when the pair traded vocals on the hit country song. During the face-to-face climax of the song, she began smiling — and then laughing — at her partner’s sudden bad luck.

Aldean kept singing as a professional is taught to do, but engineers offstage never solved the technical issue. He looked at his microphone, played with the cordless pack on his belt buckle and then slumped his shoulders, no doubt disappointed that his moment to shine on the 2012 Grammys stage didn’t come off without a hitch.

Until that point, both singers seemed to be at their best, with Clarkson really taking her time to sell the passionate love song. Aldean’s night could be salvaged later with a win in the Best Country album category.

Watch Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson Duet at the 2012 Grammy Awards

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