Darius Rucker surprised fans at the 2010 CMT Artists of the Year Ceremony by teaming up with global pop sensation Adele for a soul-stirring duet of Lady A’s chart-topping single.
Adele’s powerful vocals, blending with Rucker’s deep southern tones, brought a soulful rendition of “Need You Now” that resonated with passion. Known for her emotionally charged performances, Adele’s moving interpretation of the country trio’s ballad moved Lady A’s Hillary Scott to tears.
Enjoy the amazing collaboration in the video below:
“It’s got quite a country tinge to it. What gave me the courage to try to do that musically was ‘Need You Now,’” shared Adele with CMT. “You could not even change your radio station without it being played. You couldn’t escape it and, luckily, I loved it! (laughs) Or it would have been awful! But the feeling the song gave me, I was trying to channel it in my own song.”
Numerous viewers flooded in the comments to send their compliments. A person wrote, “Have always known that Adele had an incredible voice. But Darius Rucker…I mean…oh my. No words for how good his voice is. New respect… What a perfect collaboration.”
In 2009, Lady A released “Need You Now” as the lead single from their second album of the same name. The band initially believed in its potential, but its success exceeded expectations when it topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for five weeks straight. The song also crossed over to pop and adult contemporary charts that solidify Lady A’s appeal across genres.
“Need You Now” garnered multiple awards, including four Grammys (Song of the Year, Record of the Year), a CMA Award, two ACM Awards, and the BMI Pop Award, establishing Lady A as a prominent figure in the music industry.