Stevie Wonder was on stage Saturday night when he learned about the death of Sen. John McCain, and the icon paid his respects the best way he knew how: through music.
The legendary singer and songwriter was playing to a sold-out crowd at The Borgata in Atlantic City when news broke that McCain had lost his battle with stage-four brain cancer.
Minutes later, Wonder began covering Billy Joel‘s 1977 song “Just the Way You Are.”
“This song goes out to Sen. John McCain,” Wonder said. “I wanted to see him before he left this planet, but I didn’t see him. I didn’t get the chance. But he grew to know compassion was not about any political party. It was about loving people for just the way they are.”
“God bless his soul,” Wonder continued, as the massive crowd stood in respect. “Let us send his family love. I send you all my love, all my prayers.”