Adele Explains Why She Restarted Her George Michael Grammys Tribute

"I have been working very hard on this tribute for him, every day."
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Adele was determined to make her tribute to George Michael perfect.

On Sunday night, the singer asked the band to restart her live Grammys rendition of Michael’s 1996 ode to casual gay sex, “Fastlove,” after a rocky start.

“I can’t do it again like last year. I’m sorry for swearing and I’m sorry for starting again,” she said, referencing her botched 2016 Grammys performance when the microphones fell onto the piano strings that left her crying all the next day. Can we please start it again? I’m sorry, I can’t mess this up for him. I’m sorry. I can’t. I’m sorry for swearing. I’m really sorry.”

She refused to deliver a less-than-stellar tribute to Michael.

After the performance, Adele explained to reporters backstage what went wrong, according to E! News.

“I was devastated by that, and my rehearsal — I did have a shaky rehearsal today,” the Brit, who called Michael “one of the truest icons,” said. “But I have been working very hard on this tribute for him, every day.”

A production source told People magazine that Adele was “super nervous going into [Sunday’s Grammys]. She cleared out the stadium for her rehearsal but it went really well.”

Of course, her full performance went spectacularly, and celebs in the audience applauded Adele’s do-over for its authenticity.

Before You Go

Adele

Grammy Awards 2017 Red Carpet

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