You know on the rare occasion that Sting sings a cover song that it’s gonna be special. The English legend proved this with his cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising” at the latter’s Kennedy Center Honors show. And the best part? The Boss was right there watching Sting perform, with a huge smile on his face. Sting opened the song with a respectful bow, and you could already tell from the look on Springsteen’s face that this was going to be a memorable performance.

Sting began “The Rising” with a heartfelt vocal with just a sparse piano part for accompaniment. He gradually built up the tension until the full band and a huge choir kicked in, bringing the song to the next level. By the end of the song, Sting had the entire crowd, which was packed with A-listers, up on their feet and singing along. It’s no secret that here we have a lot of love for Sting, and performances like this are exactly why!

Sting performed his “The Rising” cover at The Kennedy Center Honors Gala on December 6, 2009. Fans were loving the cover and added comments such as “I actually prefer this sung by Sting than Bruce. I think Sting’s voice is a true blessing for the world. He’s the meaning of legendary!” and “When you want your tribute done right, you call Sting. Such a powerful rendition, and a beautiful performance for the Boss.”

In 2014, Sting also became a Kennedy Center Honoree, and Springsteen was able to return the favor! At the 2014 event, the Boss hit the stage to perform Sting’s 1996 solo deep cut “I Hung My Head.” It was a really beautiful moment to see how proud Springsteen was to be there, and the ecstatic reception that Sting gave while watching from the audience. Springsteen was also in fine form vocally, and it almost seems like the song was written just for him!

In 2014, Sting also became a Kennedy Center Honoree, and Springsteen was able to return the favor! At the 2014 event, the Boss hit the stage to perform Sting’s 1996 solo deep cut “I Hung My Head”. It was a really beautiful moment to see how proud Springsteen was to be there, and the ecstatic reception that Sting gave while watching from the audience. Springsteen was also in fine form vocally, and it almost seems like the song was written just for him!

The Kennedy Center honored five people in 2009, with Springsteen being joined by Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, and Robert De Niro. An all-star lineup appeared to celebrate the Boss’s music on the night, with John Mellencamp opening the performances with “Born in the U.S.A.” Eddie Vedder appeared just before Sting, with the Pearl Jam frontman singing another song from Springsteen’s 2002 album The Rising, “My City of Ruins”.