George Michael tribute at VMAs features Sombr, RAYE, Teddy Swims and Adam Lambert

musicSep 27, 202642359

MTV staged a George Michael tribute at the 2026 Video Music Awards featuring Sombr, RAYE, Teddy Swims and Adam Lambert. Sombr opened with two songs, "Faith" and "Father Figure." RAYE performed "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)." Teddy Swims sang "Careless Whisper." Adam Lambert closed the set with "Freedom '90," joined onstage by MNEK, Meek, and Saint Harison. The tribute noted Michael's prior Video Vanguard win in 1989, which Madonna presented, and this year's Vanguard went to Nirvana.

Tom & Lorenzo

@tomandlorenzo.bsky.social

It turns out that only George Michael could sing George Michael's songs

653h ago

Quoting this

Kate Crowe2

If you would like to hear what i imagine actual angels sound like, his duet with Aretha is incredible

Brandi Rene 🦅💚

@brandi-rene.swifties.social

WE HAVE LIVING ARTISTS WHO KNEW AND OR WORKED WITH GEORGE MICHAEL WHY DID NO ONE CALL THEM UP!?!?!!?

293h ago

teekay

@iamtkp.bsky.social

We needed a gay for this George Michael tribute omg thank you Adam #VMAs

203h ago

karlie (taylor’s version)

@memorygarden1989.swifties.social

Not having taylor participate in the George Michael tribute when she released Father Figure and gave him credits… is a choice

183h ago

Adam Bonin

@adambonin.bsky.social

I'm amused that the MTV VMAs did a tribute to George Michael (there's legacy projects to cross-promote) given Michael's ultimate rejection of music video in 1990: "If my life goes the way I want it to, I would like to never step in front of a camera again." And he told the NYT this::

'' Although one will accompany the release of ''Freedom 90,'' Mr. Michael said its content would be a joke. ''I decided to direct a video that will have some of the top models in the world lip-synching to my music, but I won't be anywhere to be seen,'' he said. ''The irony is that the video will probably be a huge success because of the way those people look.''

103h ago

Alex

@purplechrain.bsky.social

Coming up next: a tribute to George Michael, 9.75 years after his death, by three straight people

143h ago

craven (so it goes…) 🧡🌈🪞

@jadegolduck.bsky.social

music video into the george michael tribute hahahaahaha after her gay ass polo on the stories this morning

123h ago

InClosetsLikeCedar🌈💛✨

@inclosetslikecedar.bsky.social

I cried at Adam Lambert covering George Michael… the rest was a little underwhelming 😅

133h ago

Dr. Brother

@fromalljd.bsky.social

Man, George Michael truly was a gift and an amazing artist. #VMA

73h ago

𝔊𝔬𝔱𝔥 𝔖𝔭𝔦𝔠𝔢

@catladyqueen.bsky.social

And then the George Michaels tribute… I’m shaking… it’s really happening huh?

113h ago

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓓𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓛𝓪𝓷a💋Back In Black🎶

@thatdamelana.bsky.social

Teddy Swims rocking the skullet. Yash approved! Adam Lambert was easily the best of everyone who performed in the George Michael tribute. He's so good! #VMAs #BB28

83h ago

Technogaijin

@technogaijin.bsky.social

Man, Sombr's voice sounds so thin and crappy compared to George Michael. Off pitch in parts, too. Wrong choice for that tribute. Yikes. #MTV #VMAs

83h ago

Derrick Clifton

@derrickclifton.bsky.social

I'm confused. Any reason why the #VMAs waited almost 10 years after George Michael passed away to give him this level of a tribute? Because they haven't made that clear whatsoever.

43h ago