Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
Adam Lambert surprised viewers by joining the George Michael tribute at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Sombr, Teddy Swims and RAYE had been announced for the performance at Sunday night’s ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The tribute celebrated the British musician, who died in 2016 at age 53.
Introducing the segment, Orville Peck said, “George Michael was a pop god. He became an international superstar at only 19, writing and producing hit after hit, ruling the charts and paving the way for so many of us.”
“His music and videos were timeless anthems and powerful statements against the establishment. (1987 song) I Want Your Sex was so raw that MTV ran a disclaimer in front of it. Freedom! '90 catapulted the era of the supermodel and the iconic outside was a reclamation of his own narrative.”
Sombr, whose real name is Shane Boose, opened with Faith and Father Figure, both from 1987. RAYE, born Rachel Keen, then sang I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), George’s 1987 duet with Aretha Franklin.
Teddy Swims, whose real name is Jaten Dimsdale, performed 1984’s Careless Whisper. Lambert followed with Freedom! ’90, joined by MEEK, MNEK and Saint Harison.
George received the MTV Video Vanguard Award in 1989.
A live album titled George Michael: The Faith Tour is due in November. A film with the same title is scheduled to reach cinemas in December.
The ceremony also paid tribute to Dolly Parton. In a recording made ahead of the show, Kacey Musgraves sang Parton’s 1973 song I Will Always Love You.
The country star died last month at age 80.
Share
Advertisement
Teyana Taylor believes stepping away from music for five years was one of the best decisions she could have made, saying she has since watched her prayers come true.
The singer and One Battle After Another actress announced her retirement from music in 2020 after becoming frustrated with the lack of support from her record label for her third release, The Album.
During her time away from the music industry, Taylor turned her attention to acting and built an impressive screen career, appearing in films including A Thousand and One, Coming 2 America and One Battle After Another, as well as the television series All's Fair.
Looking back on the decision, the 34 year old told ELLE for its Women in Hollywood issue that she was thankful she had found the courage to walk away, even without knowing what would come next.
“I have a lot of gratitude for how I am able to see all of my prayers answered, all of the tears wiped. It was tough because I said I retired, and I didn't know what was next. I was afraid, but I wasn't afraid to take the leap,” she explained. “I've always had a strong relationship with God and felt him saying, 'Okay, do you trust me? I know you've been trusting, but do you really, really trust me? You ready to let me take that teddy bear from you so I can give you something bigger and better?'”
Speaking about her upcoming feature directorial debut, Get Lite, Taylor added that her ambitions behind the camera were also beginning to become a reality. “I told y'all that one day I'm going to be a big director, and (the fact that) that is coming to fruition shows his power.”
Taylor made her musical comeback in August with her fourth studio album, Escape Room, which she has described as her most personal and emotionally open work so far.
Although she has returned to music, Taylor continues to pursue acting, with upcoming appearances in The Rip, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, and 72 Hours, which features Kevin Hart.
Share
Advertisement
