Ed Sheeran breaks down in tears as he performs emotional song about daughter Lyra at funeral

Ed Sheeran broke down in tears as he performed a song about his daughter Lyra  at music icon Michael Gudinski’s state funeral in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The British singer, 30, became visibly emotional as he sang new song Visiting Hours at the Rod Laver Arena – stopping, before saying ‘sorry’ and returning to the microphone.

The A-Team hitmaker told the audience before his set: ‘I never get this nervous, I’m really f*****g nervous. So apologies if I mess up the lyrics or anything.’

Tribute: Ed Sheeran broke down in tears as he performed a song about his daughter Lyra at music icon Michael Gudinski’s state funeral in Melbourne on Wednesday

The star revealed he had penned the song in quarantine. 

He said: ‘So I’m extremely, extremely grateful to be here. I know it’s a difficult thing to get into this country and I don’t take it for granted for all the hard work getting me here and I really, really just appreciated the opportunity to get here.

‘In lockdown I was able to have a guitar for quarantine I always find the best way to process stuff is to write songs, be it good news, bad news and here’s a song I finished last week.

Visiting Hours is said to be about Ed’s late grandfather Bill, who died in 2013 – and asking for advice on raising his and wife Cherry Seaborn’s baby girl Lyra, who was born in August.

Brave: The British singer, 30, became visibly emotional as he sang new song Visiting Hours at the Rod Laver Arena – stopping, before saying ‘sorry’ and returning to the microphone

Ed sang: ‘I wish that heaven had visiting hours. So I could just show and bring the news that she’s getting older.

‘And I wish that you’d met her. I wish that you’d met her.

‘The things that she’d learn from me I got them all from you.

‘I wish that heaven had visiting hours.

‘So I could just swing by and ask your advice. What would you do in my situation?

‘I haven’t a clue how I’d raise them. What would you do cause you always do what’s right.  

‘We just took a while until our worries disappeared. I’d tell you that I’m scared of turning out a failure.

Tears: Ed stepped away from the microphone to compose himself during the song 

‘You’d say remember that the answers in the love that we create.’      

Earlier on, Ed was overcome with emotion as he performed at the star-studded farewell, after he flew into Australia and quarantined in Byron Bay earlier this month. 

The star performed a moving acoustic rendition of We Were Younger Then, before stopping to wipe tears from his eyes.

Ed also sat front row at the memorial alongside Gudinski’s grieving family, who were seen crying during the emotional ceremony. 

He recounted meeting Gudinski for the first time in Melbourne, and said he appeared ‘very proper’ at first.  

Heartbreak: Ed sang: ‘I wish that heaven had visiting hours. So I could just show and bring the news that she’s getting older’

‘Everywhere he went, he just lit up the room and then f**ked off,’ he joked, after calling him a ‘tornado’ and a ‘barrel of laughs’. 

Ed then performed one his his early hits, The A Team, which he said was one of Gudinski’s favourites from his stellar repertoire. 

He said he was ‘grateful’ to have been given the opportunity to ‘say goodbye’ to Gudinski in person amid the coronavirus pandemic.   

‘Michael was a tornado of joy,’ the Shape of You singer wrote after learning of Gudinski’s death.

‘You would know he arrived in the building just by hearing the chaotic bark of his, and you could feel the room get excited about the arrival of his presence.

‘He was such a force, and would make everyone feel like they were the most important person to him.’   

As well as live performances, the memorial included tributes and speeches celebrating Gudinski’s ‘significant contribution to the Australian and international music industry and the state of Victoria’.

‘Michael’s passion for music was legendary and his advocacy for artists established him as a much loved, respected and admired leader in the industry in Australia and overseas,’ read the event’s webpage.

Emotional: Ed performed a moving tribute as photos of him with Michael flashed up

Arena seating has been reserved for official guests, family, friends, colleagues and industry representatives, with some tickets also allocated to registered members of the public.  

The memorial is expected to run for two-and-a-half hours and will be live-streamed on YouTube from 7.07pm.

The start time is reportedly in honour of Gudinski’s favourite wine, Penfolds Bin 707.

In lieu of flowers, the Gudinski family asked people to consider making a contribution to Support Act, a fund for musicians doing it tough during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Kylie Minogue, who appeared sombre at Gudinski’s private funeral earlier this month, also attended the state memorial. 

Teaming up: He later joined forces with Kylie Minogue to perform Locomotion

Gudinski was farewelled at Melbourne’s Ormond Hall on March 10, with over 300 mourners in attendance. 

Other attendees included Jimmy Barnes, sporting greats Shane Warne and Nick Riewoldt, actors and entertainers including Sam Neill and Asher Keddie, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan and billionaire trucking magnate Lindsay Fox.   

On Wednesday, it was revealed that an ARIA Award is being renamed in honour of late music industry icon. 

The Australian Recording Industry Association announced the award for Best Breakthrough Artist will be renamed the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist ARIA Award. 

Fan: The Shape of You singer said it hadn’t been a problem learning The Loco-Motion for the memorial, because he loved it

Duet: Afterwards, Kylie and Ed shared a hug onstage as the audience applauded and cheered their history-making performance

Distraught: Ed also sat front at the memorial alongside Gudinski’s grieving family, who were seen crying during the emotional ceremony

It will be presented for the first time at this year’s awards ceremony, which usually takes place in November.   

‘It is unequivocal that Michael’s passion was breaking Australian artists and putting them on a world stage, and he had a proud history of success in doing so,’ ARIA chairman Denis Handlin said in a statement.

‘Following personally discussing this with Michael’s family, this is the most appropriate honour for ARIA to bestow as it recognises Michael’s profound impact on Australian artists, and the memories and legacy he created.’

Gudinski, who was widely regarded as the ‘father of the Australian music industry’, died in Melbourne on March 2.   

Looking back: An emotional Taylor Swift recounted spending birthdays with Gudinski and his family at their home in Melbourne

Special appearances: The memorial drew tributes from international acts, including Sting, Billy Joel, Taylor Swift and Elton John (pictured)

He was 68 and is outlived by his wife Sue, children Matt and Kate, and two grandchildren.

The famed music promoter formed record company Mushroom Records at just 20 years old.

He went on to sign and launch the careers of local artists such as Kylie Minogue, who is now one of the biggest pop stars in the world.

 In 1979, he established concert promoter Frontier Touring and stayed at its helm until his death.  

Mushroom Group said in a statement at the time: ‘It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Michael Gudinski AM overnight. 

‘The much-loved Australian music legend died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Melbourne, Australia. Michael Gudinski was a key figure in shaping the Australian music industry.  

Vale: As well as live performances, the memorial included tributes and speeches celebrating Gudinski’s ‘significant contribution to the Australian and international music industry and the state of Victoria’

RIP: Gudinski was 68 and is outlived by his wife Sue (pictured together at the premiere of King Kong in Melbourne in June 2013), children Matt and Kate, and two grandchildren

‘He founded the Mushroom Group in 1972 at just 20 years old, which flourished into Australia’s largest independent entertainment group covering touring, record labels, publishing, merchandising, booking agencies, film and television production and creative services.

‘Some of Australia’s most iconic albums have been released under one of his Mushroom Group record labels.’

The statement continued: ‘His touring company Frontier Touring is Australia’s leading promoter, touring the biggest names in global music since its inception in 1979.  

‘A larger-than-life figure, Michael was widely respected for his unwavering passion for all music – in particular Australian music.’ 

Shortly after news broke about Gudinski’s death, a variety of stars, including Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Bruce Springsteen, Russell Crowe and Jimmy Barnes, paid touching tribute to him.

Close: Ed (right) is pictured with his close friend Michael in a social media snap

During last year’s COVID-19 lockdown, Gudinski recruited the likes of Jimmy Barnes and Crowded House to perform at the Music From the Home Front television concert, organising the event in just nine days.  

He was arguably one of the most powerful and influential figures in the music industry during his illustrious career.

After forming Mushroom Records in 1972, the label went on to work with artists such as Madonna, ABBA, Jason Donovan and Nelly Furtado.

Gudinski also enjoyed international success with artists such as Peter Andre and Garbage, and promoted tours for major acts worldwide.  

Most recently, Frontier Touring promoted Elton John’s epic farewell tour in 2020. 

In June 2006, Gudinski was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia medal (AM) for his service to the entertainment industry through his work in promoting Australian recording artists.

In 2009, he played a major role in organising the Sound Relief benefit concerts, which raised millions for victims of the Victorian bushfires and Queensland floods.  

In 2012, Gudinski was honoured by the city of Melbourne as ‘Melburnian of the Year’.

Gudinski also helped promote Ed Sheeran’s record-breaking Australasian tour in 2018, which saw more than a million tickets sold.

With Frontier’s help, Ed shattered the record set by Dire Straits 32 years earlier, when they sold 950,000 tickets on one tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1986.

Music man: He was arguably one of the most powerful and influential figures in the music industry during his illustrious career