Josh Groban has been forced to lip-sync.

The star performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Utah and made to mime, but refused to do so since.

Asked if he blamed Beyonce for not singing 'Star-Spangled Banner' live at Barack Obama's presidential inauguration in January, the 'Brave' musician was cautious.

He told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper's Seven magazine: ''It's hard to say because I was forced to lip-sync. Everybody had to that night.

''And it was at a stage in my career where to them it was just about the show and it was, 'Hey kid, you're gonna do it to a [backing] track - and if we're gonna get the flame out at the right note, it has to be the note on track.''

Josh revealed he's never repeated it since, and argued against it when he performed at Super Bowl XXVIII in 2004 - and he thinks Beyonce could have sung live if she wanted.

He claimed: ''I believe that people can choose. Don't get me wrong, I don't fault Beyonce for her choice. But it was a choice. And maybe I'd make that choice in the future.

''There's no 'holier than thou' mentality here. We know that Beyonce is one of the most talented singers on the planet, period. We know she can bring it.''

While her talent might excuse the 'Love on Top' hitmaker from miming on occasion, it's auto-tuning which angers Josh about the music industry today.

He ranted: ''What I can't stand is when auto-tune is used for singers who really don't have good technique, who don't really deserve to be on the main stage.

''And they auto-tune themselves to a Grammy. That's when I have a problem.''