Adam Lambert, an American Idol alum and current Queen frontman, performed Cher’s iconic 1998 hit “Believe” at the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2019, leaving the legendary pop diva in tears. The annual awards ceremony that took place on December 26, 2018, was broadcast from the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C. USA. The ceremony honours individuals for their lifetime artistic achievement. Adam Lambert was performing at the ceremony in tribute to Cher, who was one of the honourees.
Lambert’s version of “Believe” was heartfelt and ballad-like, a stark contrast to the upbeat and electric original. The camera panned to a visibly moved Cher wiping away tears as Lambert sang. Three weeks later, Cher was still moved by the performance, writing on Twitter that it was “BEYOND COMPREHENSION.”