Jon Bon Jovi says he’s “grateful to this day” to Taylor Swift for encouraging Prince William to join them on stage for a rendition of her iconic 1986 hit, “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
The unlikely trio performed the song at the Centrepoint Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace on November 26, 2013, and footage of the moment has steadily gone viral since.
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Talk to The independent, Bon Jovi paid tribute to Swift for bringing the three of them together.
“It was all her,” he said. “She literally grabbed him by the arm and ran on stage, and they both knew the words and were singing together.
“I honor him and I’m grateful for this day because, you know, there’s the future king of England with the biggest pop star in the world singing one of your songs. It’s a great memory.
Read The independentThe full Jon Bon Jovi interview here.
In 2021, Prince William recalled this evening in an episode of the Apple Fitness+ show. It’s time to walk podcast.
“I’m sitting next to Taylor Swift. She is to my left. And after Jon sings his first song, there’s a pause and she turns to me. She puts her hand on my arm, looks me in the eyes and says, “Come on, William. Let’s go sing,'” the Prince of Wales said.
“To this day, I still don’t know what came over me. Honestly, even now I cringe at what happened next and I don’t understand why I gave in. But, honestly, if Taylor Swift looks you in the eye, touches your arm and says, “Come with me…” I stood up like a puppy and said, “Yeah, okay, that sounds like a great idea. I will follow you.'”
“I walked on stage in a trance, then halfway through Jon Bon Jovi’s song ‘Livin’ on a Prayer,’ I wake up and I’m like, ‘Am I standing on stage singing ‘Livin’ “in prayer” when I don’t even know the words? »
“But the young boys and girls from Centrepoint were all there, loving it and clapping. So I thought, ‘Well, if they like it, then the night is for them.’ So fuck it. I can’t be the jerk who ruins everything for everyone. And so I desperately try to remember some words and sing as loud as possible.
“Under my black tie, I was sweating a lot. I felt like a swan, where I was trying to stay calm on the outside, but inside the little legs were paddling fast.
Taylor Swift released her latest album The Society of Tortured Poets earlier today, and it’s already broken the record for album with the most Spotify streams in a single day.
Follow live updates and reactions to Swift’s new album here.