Alicia Keys Performs Beethoven Sonata at Kobe Bryant Memorial After Athlete Learned to Play It

Kobe Bryant’s love of classical music was honored during the powerful celebration of life for the NBA legend on Monday.

Alicia Keys took the stage at the Staples Center to perform Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 14,” which is known as the “Moonlight Sonata.”

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CNN

She alsogave a heartfelt tribute of her ownin her opening monologue of the show.

During a chat withEllen DeGeneresafter the Grammys, the 39-year-old singer recalled the opening of the show changing “minutes before” it was set to begin.

“I was literally backstage, I put on my meditation music, I just was thinking and I called some of my closest people that helped me really find the truth in the moment,” she continued. “It just so happenedBoyz II Menwas there already that night and we wanted to do something special — create just something that felt like it was the right thing — and we pulled it together and it was just beautiful. It was like that magic that happens when it’s necessary.”

Earlier in Monday’s memorial, Beyoncéperformed two of her most emotional tracks to kick things off.

The singer started to sing her hit “XO,” before stopping to tell the crowd, “I’m here because I love Kobe and this was one of his favorite songs.”

She then explained she was going to restart the song from the beginning, and asked the crowd to sing along.

After concluding the track, Beyoncé, 38, launched into “Halo.”

Beyoncé’s performance wasn’t the first musical tribute to the basketball icon.

source: people.com