Kelly Clarkson honored the late Van Halen guitarist, Eddie Van Halen on Wednesday (Oct. 14) evening at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards.
“Just a few days ago a true giant was taken from us, Eddie Van Halen. He was a legend guitarist, an amazing musician and an incredible songwriter,” Clarkson said. “5 years ago, he brought his band to the Billboard Music Awards stage in Las Vegas for one of their rare live tv performances and what made that moment even more speiclal is that he was joined by his son Wolfgang, that is one for all who saw it will always remember.”
Following Clarkson’s monologue remembering the late guitarist, they played clips of his Billboard Music Awards performance.
See her tribute below.
Eddie Van Halen, the iconic guitarist and co-founder of the popular rock band Van Halen, died at 65 years old following a long battle with throat cancer on Tuesday (Oct. 6). he died at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica on Tuesday (Oct. 6). His wife, Janie along with his son Wolfgang and Van Halen’s brother and drummer Alex were by his side.
Sources say that in the last 72 hours, Eddie’s ongoing battle with throat cancer went downhill and Doctors discovered that his throat cancer has moved to his brain and other organs in his final days. He has been battling cancer for over a decade. He has been in and out of the hospital throughout the last year including in November 2019 for intestinal issues and more recently when undergoing a round of chemo.
Eddie still continued to live his life to the fullest following his diagnosis, still attending concert and rehearsing music with his song, Wolfgang, who joined Van Halen as their bassist in 2016.