R. Kelly Sings Tribute to Nelson Mandela on 'Arsenio Hall'

FUSE TV - R. Kelly Sings Tribute to Nelson Mandela on 'Arsenio Hall'

R. Kelly took a break from his recent myriad pop star collabos to pay his respects to Nelson Mandela by performing "Soldier's Heart" on The Arsenio Hall Show Thursday night.

Kelly first performed the piano ballad for the beloved leader, who died yesterday at 95, in Mandela's South African home in 2010.

The "Do What U Want" collaborator explained his feelings about the leader to Hall before the performance: "I sang for Nelson Mandela in his home, out in Africa, during the time when I was doing the [2010] World Cup. And I sang a special song for him on his piano."

Kelly voiced a sentiment common to nearly all those who met Mandela. "I'm just blessed to know that I walked in his presence," Kelly said. "Being around him inspired me to even go further in my life in my walk and my career and everything, man. He's just an incredible power."

The performance is breathtaking, but difficult to watch. After an emotive introduction by Hall, the audience remains pin-drop quiet as Kelly's vocals soar and tremble, intertwined with sparse piano notes. 

The song crescendos with these lyrics: 

"He stood on the front line

He led the way

Out of the darkness

He didn't let us go astray

He was ready to die

For our sake

And that takes a soldier's heart."

The whole thing is pretty phenomenal. We dare you to remain dry-eyed after watching. 

Whitney: Born to Sing

41m

Whitney: Born to Sing

Feat. Mal Hall

22m

Feat. Mal Hall

The Missy Elliott Hall of Fame

2m

The Missy Elliott Hall of Fame

Young R.E.A.D Feat.Young M.A

20m

Young R.E.A.D Feat.Young M.A

Jesse Serves Up Serious R&B Vibes with "Never Know"

3m

Jesse Serves Up Serious R&B Vibes with "Never Know"

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

1m

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

Here's What to Expect on "Saturday Morning Fever"

2m

Here's What to Expect on "Saturday Morning Fever"

Ian Sings His Heart Out in "Starts With You Baby" Music Video

3m

Ian Sings His Heart Out in "Starts With You Baby" Music Video

Mario Lopez: One On One

Mario Lopez: One On One

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

17m

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

Dancin' On Air Producer Once Told Madonna to Clean Her Mess

1m

Dancin' On Air Producer Once Told Madonna to Clean Her Mess

I Played One on TV

46m

I Played One on TV

Sake One

10m

Sake One

Game On!

20m

Game On!

Leaning On Lena

20m

Leaning On Lena

One Take Jake

20m

One Take Jake

On Call Miami

44m

On Call Miami

Who's On Top?

1h 13m

Who's On Top?

One Busy Queen

21m

One Busy Queen

On Call LA

43m

On Call LA

Chew On This

44m

Chew On This

On Call NYC

44m

On Call NYC

Rapper Rich Quick Performs "Nice Guy" On 'Dancin' On Air'

3m

Rapper Rich Quick Performs "Nice Guy" On 'Dancin' On Air'

Bougie On A Budget

2m

Bougie On A Budget

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

21m

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

Is Everyone on Drugs?

20m

Is Everyone on Drugs?

Eye On The Prize

44m

Eye On The Prize

Gym Shorts on Runway

41m

Gym Shorts on Runway

Battle on the Catwalk

45m

Battle on the Catwalk

Fire On The Floor

22m

Fire On The Floor

Putting It On Wax

23m

Putting It On Wax

Clean Up Aisle One

46m

Clean Up Aisle One

Freaky On The Floor

22m

Freaky On The Floor

Eyes On The Prize

22m

Eyes On The Prize

License to Breed

23m

License to Breed

Care to Laugh

1h 16m

Care to Laugh

Welcome To Hollywood

21m

Welcome To Hollywood

Maid To Order

45m

Maid To Order

Filmmakers To Watch

Filmmakers To Watch

Two to Tango

46m

Two to Tango

Right To Twerk

20m

Right To Twerk

Toe to Toe

1h 43m

Toe to Toe

LIVE on FUSE: Combate Global

30s

LIVE on FUSE: Combate Global

Welcome to the Jungle

46m

Welcome to the Jungle

Go Back to China

1h 21m

Go Back to China

Hail To The King

22m

Hail To The King

Who Came To Win?

20m

Who Came To Win?

Down to the Wire

45m

Down to the Wire

Care to Laugh - Trailer

2m

Care to Laugh - Trailer

Bougie on a Budget Music Video

2m

Bougie on a Budget Music Video

T-Pain Gets Schooled On Genetics

1m

T-Pain Gets Schooled On Genetics

Toe to Toe - Trailer

2m

Toe to Toe - Trailer

Sea to Shining Sea

1h 21m

Sea to Shining Sea

Welcome to The 212

20m

Welcome to The 212

This Season on Transcendent: First Look

1m

This Season on Transcendent: First Look

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

1m

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

Gabriel Iglesias Dishes On His "Second Favorites"

1m

Gabriel Iglesias Dishes On His "Second Favorites"

DJ Eclipse's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

13m

DJ Eclipse's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

DJ Scratch's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

14m

DJ Scratch's Vinyl Collection on Crate Diggers

We All Have That One Family Member...

3m

We All Have That One Family Member...

Desus & Mero On Recognizing their Social Responsibility

10m

Desus & Mero On Recognizing their Social Responsibility

This Season On Clash of The Corps

1m

This Season On Clash of The Corps

Dikembe Mutombo on Adidas at Sneaker Con

5m

Dikembe Mutombo on Adidas at Sneaker Con

Kev On Stage Makes Shrimp Fried Rice

20m

Kev On Stage Makes Shrimp Fried Rice

One Big Happy Family: Season 2 Trailer

2m

One Big Happy Family: Season 2 Trailer

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

51s

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

Martin Moreno Faces His One-Handed Woes

2m

Martin Moreno Faces His One-Handed Woes

Lil Jon and Nude DM's on Tour

3m

Lil Jon and Nude DM's on Tour

Sea to Shining Sea - Trailer

2m

Sea to Shining Sea - Trailer

George Michael: Easy to Pretend

56m

George Michael: Easy to Pretend

Go Back to China - Trailer

1m

Go Back to China - Trailer

That Farm To Table Ish

20m

That Farm To Table Ish

Time To Take 'Em Down

20m

Time To Take 'Em Down

Bruce Springsteen: Born to Rock

41m

Bruce Springsteen: Born to Rock

Taylor Swift: Dare to Dream

41m

Taylor Swift: Dare to Dream

How To Be A Disruptor

20m

How To Be A Disruptor

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

2m

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

14m

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

Nick Cannon Talks His Personal Opinion on Marriage

1m

Nick Cannon Talks His Personal Opinion on Marriage

Clark Should Have An S On His Chest

2m

Clark Should Have An S On His Chest

Nopalito On Telling Raw & Authentic Stories Through Photography

7m

Nopalito On Telling Raw & Authentic Stories Through Photography

The Transcendent Star On Donald Trump: Dear Bambiana

1m

The Transcendent Star On Donald Trump: Dear Bambiana

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

2m

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

Freedia's Manager Drops a Unexpected Bomb on Her...

3m

Freedia's Manager Drops a Unexpected Bomb on Her...

That Back To The Future Ish

20m

That Back To The Future Ish

Get To Know Deana: Fluffy Fanatic

1m

Get To Know Deana: Fluffy Fanatic

How to Make Ally Brooke's Enchiladas

44s

How to Make Ally Brooke's Enchiladas

How to Make DaniLeigh's Pastelón

1m

How to Make DaniLeigh's Pastelón

Back To The Heart Attack Grill

2m

Back To The Heart Attack Grill

King Keraun Attempts to Fly Board

6m

King Keraun Attempts to Fly Board

Get To Know Mariposa: Fluffy Fanatic

1m

Get To Know Mariposa: Fluffy Fanatic

Women's Rights & Strengths Coming To Light

8m

Women's Rights & Strengths Coming To Light

Comedians React to SHOCKING US Laws!

6m

Comedians React to SHOCKING US Laws!

The Legend of Baron To'a

1h 39m

The Legend of Baron To'a

We Need To Talk About America

We Need To Talk About America

Get to Know Gil: Fluffy Fanatic

1m

Get to Know Gil: Fluffy Fanatic

1000 On How Resilience & Consistency Launched His Rap Career

9m

1000 On How Resilience & Consistency Launched His Rap Career

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

12m

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

Rene Casamalhuapa aka Doc on Following His "Untraditional" Path

7m

Rene Casamalhuapa aka Doc on Following His "Untraditional" Path