John Legend’s Comforting Performance of a Cherished Song
John Legend holds a significant emotional connection to a specific song tied to his late grandmother. During the 2025 Grammy Awards on February 2, the 46-year-old singer spoke with reporters about this special tune's importance.
"One of the songs that I sing a lot at my shows, written by the great Simon & Garfunkel, is 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' " he shared. Legend dedicates this powerful song to his grandmother, who passed away too soon. He noted the song's uplifting quality as it serves as "a great song to comfort people in really tough times."
Legend reflects on the impact of losing his grandmother. "The loss of my grandmother caused a lot of pain for my family, affecting us for a long time. I perform 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' to honor her memory," he explained. Singing this particular song brings him comfort.
Originally, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was released in January 1970 as the second single from Simon & Garfunkel's fifth studio album. At the 1971 Grammy Awards, the song won five awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, while topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks.
For many years, Legend has covered this iconic song, including a fresh rendition on his updated "Legend" album in 2023. A year later, he collaborated on an a cappella version with Jacob Collier, featuring Tori Kelly's vocals. This rendition won in the Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella category at the 2025 Grammys.
"Hopefully our version will bring some comfort to folks, just like that song has brought comfort to me," Legend stated during the annual event.
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