The George Michael VMAs tribute was one of the most talked-about moments of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. On Sunday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Sombr, RAYE, and Teddy Swims took the stage to honor the late pop icon on the 10th anniversary of his death — and an unannounced fourth guest brought the house down.
Introduced by country singer Orville Peck, who called Michael “a pop god,” the medley moved through some of the biggest songs of his career. And while the performances drew a rousing ovation inside the theater, reaction online was split — with fans passionately debating whether the younger stars did the legend justice.
Sombr Opened the George Michael VMAs Tribute in Michael’s Own Jacket
The 21-year-old “Back to Friends” singer kicked things off with a horn-driven take on “Faith,” followed by “Father Figure.” But it was his outfit that gave longtime fans chills: Sombr was wearing one of Michael’s actual customized leather jackets from the Faith era, a black Harley-Davidson motorcycle jacket worn by the star on his 1988–1989 Faith tour and in his 1989 Diet Coke commercial.
Speaking to Vogue, Sombr said honoring Michael’s fashion sense mattered as much as the music. “George was such an icon, not only because of his timeless music and songwriting, but his style,” he said. “To wear a jacket that has become so synonymous with that era was pretty surreal, and an honor.”
The singer added that Michael has been a major influence on his own career. “The fact he wrote, produced, and performed all his own music is so inspiring to me, because I do the same,” Sombr said. “He was also 19 when he broke internationally. I wish I could have gotten to meet him.”
RAYE and Teddy Swims Took on the Classics
Next up, RAYE delivered a gospel-tinged version of “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” Michael’s 1986 chart-topper with Aretha Franklin. Golden lighting and sepia-toned imagery washed over the stage, and Michael’s own vocals were woven through the performance — a detail that drew some of the night’s loudest cheers.
Teddy Swims then stepped up for “Careless Whisper,” performing from a lighted platform in the crowd as a saxophonist opened the piece. It was a bold choice — tackling one of the most recognizable sax lines in pop history — and the arena swayed along.
Adam Lambert’s Surprise Closer Stole the Show
Then came the moment nobody saw coming. Adam Lambert — who had not been announced as part of the tribute — stormed the stage in a fringed, studded black look to close the medley with “Freedom! ’90.” He was joined by fellow artists Saint Harison, Meek, and MNEK, while Sombr, RAYE, and Teddy Swims returned for a full-stage finale. As Just Jared reported, the surprise appearance turned the ending into a joyous, all-hands celebration of Michael’s music.
The 44-year-old singer’s powerhouse vocals drew immediate praise online. As Parade reported, many fans declared Lambert the standout of the night, with some writing that he was “the only one who did George justice” and that he should have performed the entire medley.
Not everyone was won over by the earlier performances. Some viewers felt Sombr’s nasally tone stripped the soul from “Father Figure,” with one widely shared comment reading, “He brought zero soul into one of the most beautiful songs of all time.” The debate kept Michael’s name trending on Google — with searches spiking past 100,000 — well into Monday morning.
George Michael’s Enduring Legacy at the VMAs
The tribute arrived at a meaningful moment. Michael died on Christmas Day in 2016 at age 53, and this year’s ceremony marked a decade since his passing. It also lands as his landmark 1987 album Faith nears its 40th anniversary.
Michael and MTV were inseparable in the ’80s, from his Wham! days to his solo reign. He won four VMAs during his career and accepted the Video Vanguard Award in 1989 — an honor Madonna presented to him. Sunday’s tribute was put together by music director Adam Blackstone.
And there’s more on the way for fans. As Paste Magazine noted, the live album George Michael: The Faith Tour is set for release on November 6, followed by a feature-length concert film hitting U.S. theaters on December 11.
Ten years on, the George Michael VMAs tribute proved his music still moves generations — even if fans can’t agree on who sang it best. For more from the night, see our coverage of Sienna Spiro’s Best New Artist win, Madonna’s record-breaking seven wins, and Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” premiere.