Beyonce (WENN file photo) Listen to the 'board feed'

Beyonce's singing abilities are no longer in question - the person behind the recording of the singer's screeching version of If I Were A Boy has admitted it was all a hoax.

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

Fans were stunned to hear Beyonce wailing a tone-deaf rendition of her hit into the mic.

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

And Knowles was proved right - celebrity website TMZ.com has posted an interview with the faker behind the recording, who admits the prank went too far.

The unnamed hoaxer tells the site, "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 adds, "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."