Adam Lambert’s Cover of “Believe” Brought Tears to Even Cher’s Eyes

Cher, the legendary pop star who only needs to go by one name (we wish we were that cool!) is one of the most successful performers of our lifetime. The 72-year-old multi-talented star has been a force to be reckoned with for a staggering 56 years, ever since she and the late, great Sonny Bono joined forces back in the early ’60s.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, we’re not the only ones who admire Cher’s incredibly long and prosperous reign in both music and movies–she also recently gained attention from the Kennedy Center, an organization who, each year, hands out prizes to individuals who have made a lasting effect on the performing arts and American culture.

The prize is one of the most coveted in the entertainment industry, and this year, Cher was awarded with one of those cool, rainbow-colored medals. For her part of the ceremony, the singer was serenaded by none other than Adam Lambert, a performer who, we think, has just as much gravitas as the honoree.

Lambert chose to cover Cher’s “Believe,” in a stunning production that literally brought down the house. As you can see above, the normally steely Cher was profoundly touched by the American Idol runner-up’s emotional tribute. Yep, those are tears that you see in her eyes!

Clearly, Lambert is just as proud of his performance as Cher is, as evidenced by the stunning opening he recently shared on his Instagram page.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Part of @cher tribute at the #thekennedycenter (full performance link in bio)

A post shared by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on

Perhaps unsurprisingly, fans of both singers–and any type of music, for that matter!–showered Lambert with tons of support following his performance. In less than a week, the performer garnered a whopping quarter of a MILLION views on Instagram alone!

Clearly, Lambert slayed his Cher tribute, but it should be noted that the rest of the star-studded line-up also left quite the impression. The other honorees included legendary composer Philip Glass, country superstar Reba McEntire, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and the four co-creators of the Broadway hit Hamilton, including Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Although, Lambert was the definite showstopper of the night, another former American Idol alum, Kelly Clarkson, also brought down the house with her stunning cover of Reba McEntire’s “Fancy.” What made her performance even more special is that McEntire–fun fact!–just so happens to be Clarkson’s mother-in-law. Just like Lambert, Clarkson sang beautifully, and just like Cher, McEntire shed some tears.

We could talk all about these performances until the cows come home, but we’d never be able to fully capture just how powerful it is to watch these young icons serenade their talented predecessors. To see Adam Lambert cover Cher’s “Believe” in front of the legend herself, be sure to watch the video below. Talk about a fitting tribute!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on Lambert’s showstopping cover. Are you a fan of his rendition? What was your favorite performance of the night? Who should be honored next by the Kennedy Center?