The Grammys honored George Michael with a performance from Adele, but tonight’s Brit Awards brought the tribute even closer to home. Both Michael’s former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley and backup singers Pepsi & Shirlie were on hand to give emotional speeches dedicated to their late friend. “A supernova in a firmament of shining stars had been extinguished and it felt like the sky had fallen in,†Ridgeley said of learning of Michael’s death on Christmas. “We always knew George was destined to become a star in his own right,†Pepsi noted, fighting back tears. The trio were there to introduce Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who performed “A Different Corner†in memory of Michael. Though, really, it’s Michael who sang his own tribute: After playing old interview footage of Michael, Martin did a posthumous duet with Michael using audio from the song’s video. Because no one can do Michael justice better than himself.
Watch Chris Martin Duet With Footage of George Michael in Emotional Brit Awards Tribute
