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John Legend tributes 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' to his late grandmother
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Jun 1, 2025
John Legend joins Jamie and Zoe on Heart Breakfast with his heartwarming live cover of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', which he still dedicates to his late grandmother #JohnLegend #cover #music Subscribe for regular entertainment! http://bit.ly/1qyfc2T Watch videos in full + exclusives here: https://thisisheart.co/heartglobalplayer Honest Celebrity Interviews: https://thisisheart.co/honestinterviews Music Artists: https://thisisheart.co/3YVm8wN Film and TV Stars: https://thisisheart.co/filmandtv _ We're the UK's biggest commercial radio brand creating memorable moments with the most recognised names in entertainment!
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0:00
Like a bridge over troubled waters, I will lay me down
0:15
He's won an Emmy, he's won an Oscar, he's won a Tony. It's hard to remember them all
0:20
Grammys too. Here's one. How many Grammys? We're at 13 now. 13 Grammys! John Legend! Hello
0:28
John Legend. Manchester Thursday, Birmingham Friday. Yeah, what's today? London Saturday. Wednesday
0:35
Today's Thursday. Okay. So I have Manchester tonight and Birmingham tomorrow. Yeah
0:40
London on Sunday. So you're playing the O2 on Sunday evening. Yes
0:44
That's a massive gig. Have you got any surprise guests that you're bringing out on stage
0:48
It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you. We'd love a little exclusive. Come on, John. You know, I think I may have a friend or two show up on Sunday
0:57
That should be fun. Is it good to be back? It's so good to be back. I love playing here
1:01
And I feel like Get Lifted and the UK have a really nice relationship
1:07
And I really think about those early days when I was playing here at like the Jazz Cafe. Yeah
1:14
And at Brixton Academy. Yeah. And the Apollo, you know, Hammersmith Apollo
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Like all these gigs that were really formative in my career during the Get Lifted time
1:27
and a lot of them happen here in the UK. So I'm excited to be back celebrating 20 years of Get Lifted
1:33
What is your favorite track to perform off the Get Lifted album? Well, Ordinary People is still very special to me
1:40
and I still do it at pretty much every show. A lot has changed over the last 20 years
1:44
Yeah, yeah. Including the fact that you now have four children? Four children, that's right
1:49
Four under 10. Yes, four under 10. My oldest just turned nine and my youngest is about to turn two So this time of the morning are you doing the school run I do the school run usually yeah Okay So I actually more of a morning person than Chrissy She more of a night person
2:07
And I like to do the school run. I'm usually up at like 6.30
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I work out first and then take the kids to school and then do whatever meetings and then go to the studio and write
2:17
What sort of a dad are you, John? Like are you a kind of shout and get it done guy or are you the chill
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I'm very chill, as you can probably tell. I'm very chill in general
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But, you know, I don't mind raising my voice if I need to
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Firm but fair. Yes. And what do the kids make about what Dad does for a living
2:37
They're very used to it now. They've been to a lot of my shows. They'll see a billboard in the city advertising The Voice or something
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or one of my concerts. They're used to it now. And they're used to people approaching me or Chrissy for an autograph or a photo
2:54
they're just used to it. I think part of them probably thinks
2:59
this is the way everyone lives. I could imagine. John, you're in good company today
3:05
because obviously you've won a few awards. Yes. But you are actually sitting across
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the world's, or let's say it's the world's, best-dressed man of 1998
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So, you know, it's sort of the same, you know, Grammys, UK's best-dressed man
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Where do you keep your awards though, fellas? Where's your best dressed man award
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Why are you bringing that up? Because you've both won awards. He's embarrassed over here
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You shouldn't be. Where do you keep all your awards? I have a little piano bar in my house and it's right next to the kitchen
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And I write songs in there. And there's this shelf kind of facing the piano
3:48
where I get to be inspired by the awards I've won already
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Makes me want to keep trying to do it again. That's nice. I like that
3:58
I understand that you working on a new Broadway show Is that true Yeah I writing for Broadway now So my Tony Award was actually just as a producer And I want to try to win one as a songwriter
4:11
So I've been writing lyrics and music for a couple of Broadway shows
4:15
Wow. Well, listen, I'm so pleased you're back. It hardly seems possible that 20 years has passed
4:24
It's been so fun. Since Get Lifted came out. It's been so fun reminiscing
4:27
My publicist, Shoshana, she's one of the few people in my career that have literally been here for the entire 20 years
4:34
Really? And so we've been having a fun time just reminiscing and thinking about all the press we did
4:43
all the radio stations we did back then, all the shows we did back then. And it's fun to really reminisce and celebrate
4:48
And it's really fun to celebrate here in the UK as the first stop for my Get Lifted tour
4:53
You mentioned that Hammersmith Apollo show. I was there. Yes. No way
4:57
And I remember it so clearly. Yeah. You wore a black suit. You had the string quartet
5:02
Oh my goodness. And the one thing that stood out for me was you played Bridge Over Troubled Water
5:07
Oh. I think for your nan. Had she just passed away? My grandmother, she hadn't just passed away, but I've been dedicating it to her
5:13
That's right. And I play for her a lot. And she was the first person who taught me to play gospel piano
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And so when I think about my playing style and the fact that I'm even a musician
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I owe part of it to her. And so I always dedicate that song to her
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Now, Bridge Over Troubled Water is my favorite song. It is one of the greats of all time
5:35
Now, there is a piano behind it. Oh, my goodness. Now, listen, I'm not... I saw it when I walked in
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I was like, that was very devious of you. I didn't even see that there
5:43
You know her. It is. I didn't even see that there. What are you thinking? No obligation here
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At all. But I'm thinking if you would give us maybe 30 seconds of your time behind that
5:57
is that something you'd be prepared to do? I wasn prepared to for sure You don have to sing Okay I play a little bit Would you do that for me Do you know what This is a real
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This is for me. Special moment. This is a real thrill for me personally
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You're going to make me cry now. You know that. When you're with me
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And feeling small When tears are in your eyes
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I will dry them all I'm on your side
6:54
Oh, when times get rough
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And friends just can't Can't be found Like a bridge
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Over troubled waters I will lay me down Wow
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Oh, my God. John Legend. I tell you what. Oh, my God. That's too much
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I'm crying. That is too much for me. John, it's been an absolute pleasure
7:36
Thank you so much. Thank you so much. And I apologise for springing that on you. You're not sorry
7:41
I blame Lionel. Listen, I urge you to go. I can tell you, 20 years ago
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I saw John sing that in Hammersmith. It was a real moment for me to be able to hear it again
7:50
20 years later. I urge you to go and see the show. Get Lifted. He's on tour
7:55
What a great guy. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you so much, John
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