WATCH: Mariah Carey performs emotional ‘One Sweet Day’ for Prince

MANILA, Philippines – Many stars and industry members have paid tribute to Prince, and at her Paris concert, Mariah Carey joined in by dedicating a song to the late pop music icon. (READ: Pop icon Prince dead at 57)

Mariah’s concert was held at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris on the same night that Prince died, April 21.

“We’ve been waiting to come and see you guys for so long and really waiting for this show. I didn’t know if I was able to make through the show tonight because I’m not sure that everybody has heard the news yet that we lost one of the greatest, the most incredible geniuses we’ve ever had in music, pop music,” Mariah said in a speech before singing her 1995 song, “One Sweet Day.”

Mariah, who was close friends with Prince, continued: “He was just one-of-a-kind and just so amazing and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to come out here, and put on a show and be festive, but I said, ‘I’m in Paris and that what Prince would actually want me to do.’ To get through it, and rather than just make everything bleak, to turn it into a moment and to just take him and honor him because he was a friend to me too and he talked me through some times when I really, really needed somebody.

“He was an incredible person if you ever get to meet him, and I’m sure his music has touched every single person in here, so let’s have a moment of silence for Prince, please.”

Afterwards, Mariah continued, “We want to do a song for him tonight, we want to do it for you guys and just for anybody who¹s ever need to make it through a moment… So, it’s a very sad day, but we’ll remember the life of somebody that will always be treasured.”

“You have to forgive me if it’s a little difficult to get through, okay?” Mariah added as the crowd cheered and the music started up.

In 2014, Mariah shared that she consulted Prince about her being a judge on American Idol season 12 (2013). “I asked someone I who respect probably more than almost anyone in the business – Prince – if he thought it was the wrong move and he said no. He thought it was the right move. So, if Prince likes it then I like it.”

In an earlier interview, Mariah described judging on American Idol “the worst experience of my life,” explaining, “It should have been about the contestants instead of about some nonexistent feud that turned into even more ridiculousness.”

That season, there appeared to be tension between Mariah and fellow judge Nicki Minaj.

Prince died on April 22 at 57 years old. He was found unconscious at his Paisley Park residence in Minnesota.

What do you think of Mariah’s tribute to Prince? Let us know in the comments! – Rappler.com