On Sunday, the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards took place to honor the best of television from the past year. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the part-live, part-virtual award ceremony also featured a performance by H.E.R. of the classic Prince song “Nothing Compares 2 U” as a soundtrack to the ‘In Memoriam’ segment.
Throughout her performance, viewers were reminded of the many beloved entertainers we lost this year. These included everyone from Chadwick Boseman, to Regis Philbin to Carl Reiner to Naya Rivera and many more.
Related: Prince Estate Shares Previously-Unreleased Funk Track “I Need a Man” [Listen]
Following a brief tribute to recently-deceased Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg from Kimmel, H.E.R. began the performance beside a larger-than-life Emmy statue along with some light orchestral accompaniment. Eventually departing from the grand piano, she commits her full force to the song as she is joined by a complete backing band.
As more names and faces flash across the screen, its easy to remember how many talents we lost this year. Capping the whole thing off with a blistering guitar solo from a lovely Fender Stratocaster, what began as a somber tribute eventually rises to the level of a viking sendoff to Valhalla.
Watch H.E.R. perform the Prince song “Nothing Compares 2 U” at the Emmys on Sunday.
H.E.R. – “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince)
[Video: Television Academy]
[H/T Billboard]