J.on Bon Jovi said in a new interview that Taylor Swift created the viral moment that found Prince William singing Bon Jovi’s 1986 hit “Livin’ on a Prayer” with both musical artists.
The royals joined the singers on stage at the Centrepoint Gala Dinner, a charity event for a homeless charity, at Kensington Palace in London in November 2013.
“It was all her,” said Bon Jovi O Independent. “She literally grabbed him by the arm and walked up on stage, and they both knew the words and sang along.”
Bon Jovi told the news outlet he is “grateful to this day” that Swift, who released a double album on Friday, encouraged Prince William. Bon Jovi is currently promoting his documentary Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story streaming on Disney+ on April 26th.
Swift and Prince William have also recalled the moment in the years since — although they have given slightly different retellings.
On a episode video, Bon Jovi starts strumming, about to sing “Livin’ on a Prayer,” before speaking. “And maybe the karaoke boy can come and sing a few words,” said the singer, to applause from the crowd, adding “you guys will come up for the chorus.”
According to Swift, Bon Jovi pointed at Prince William and said something like, “I heard you like to do this on karaoke night,” she said. counted The Graham Norton Show in 2014. Bon Jovi started the song, and Swift said Prince William looked at her and started “kind of freaking out,” saying he didn’t remember the lyrics and telling her “you have to go with me.” ”
Then they went on stage to sing and “I died,” she said, laughing.
“It was crazy,” she said at the beginning of the interview. “I was really nervous about it all because I was at Kensington Palace and it was my first royal meeting.”
Prince William also recalled the night in an episode of Apple Fitness+ Time to walk podcast in 2021. The royal was sitting next to the singer and said that “after Jon sings his first song, there is a pause and she turns to me. She puts her hand on my arm, looks me in the eyes and says, ‘Come on, William. Let’s sing.'”
“To this day I don’t know what came over me. Honestly, even now I’m cringing at what happened next and don’t understand why I gave in. But frankly, if Taylor Swift looks her in the eye, touches her arm and says, ‘Come with me…’ I stood up like a puppy and said, ‘Yeah, okay, that sounds like a great idea. I will follow you,” said the Prince of Wales. “I walked on stage in a daze, and in the middle of Jon Bon Jovi’s song ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’, I woke up and thought to myself, ‘I’m on stage singing… when I don’t even know the words?’”
But Prince William said everyone was “loving it and cheering,” so he thought he might as well enjoy it.
“I can’t be the idiot who ruins everything for everyone. And then I try desperately to remember some words and sing as hard as I can,” he said. “Underneath my black tie, there was a lot of sweat. I felt like a swan, where I was trying to stay composed on the outside, but on the inside my little legs were paddling fast.”
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
