When LeAnn Rimes appeared on stage with the LA Gay Men’s Chorus, their emotional performance of “The Rose” was so heartwarming that it would amass an incredible 11 million views on YouTube over the next fourteen years. There’s a reason folks keep coming back to this clip, and the answer might just set off the waterworks.
LeAnn takes to the stage in a champagne dress, a red rose clutched in one hand and her mic in the other, telling the live audience, “It’s been an honour to sing with all these wonderful men.” Then, she brings gay rights firmly into the spotlight, peeling back the glitz and glam of music gigs to bare the tragedies underlying the gay scene: the suicides, the lack of social support and confidence for gay men to truly “be themselves” — such sensitive themes that LeAnn can’t stop the tears from welling up as she speaks.
She dedicates her rose to gay men and their families struggling with these very topics, poignantly placing it on the empty stool beside her. And, as she takes her own position at the second stool, the cloud of choir singers behind her raises their voices like a cathedral of souls; classical, traditional, and overwhelmingly emotional.
As the Chorus chants like monks in an Abbey, LeAnn lays her beautiful top-lines over their soothing voices, her own silky melodies inviting a modern church ambience to rest over the choir’s serenely antiquated sound. It’s a fascinating blend, packed with power and feeling, enough to move most Music Man readers to tears.
Mississippi-born country singer LeAnn Rimes grew up a Southern Baptist church girl, and despite an on-and-off relationship with God, poured every ounce of spiritual power into this performance. This wasn’t her first concert for a good cause, either. In 2008, LeAnn worked with Stand Up To Cancer on the studio rendition of “Just Stand Up,” raising multi-millions towards cancer research (check out the live version of the charity single featuring Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, and more pop goddesses in the video above!)
For those unacquainted with LeAnn’s incredible rise to stardom, this vocalist scored her first Nashville record deal when she was just thirteen years old, and won her first Grammy Award when she was only fourteen — remaining the youngest artist in music history to do so. You might also recognize her from the judges’ panel on The Voice Australia and The Voice UK!
LeAnn Rimes’ unforgettable performance with the LA Gay Men’s Chorus continues to resonate profoundly, highlighting the deeply moving issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community. The world was captivated by her sincerity and grace, and the millions who return to this clip understand why.