Queen guitarist Sir Brian May was visibly moved to tears during the 2025 Polar Music Prize ceremony in Stockholm after a heartfelt tribute to the band’s late frontman, Freddie Mercury.

Joined by drummer Roger Taylor to accept the prestigious award on behalf of Queen, May witnessed Swedish singer Miriam Bryant deliver a breathtaking performance of The Show Must Go On—a song that holds profound significance for the band and fans alike. The emotional rendition left May overwhelmed, prompting him to interrupt a live TV interview to personally thank Bryant.

“That was such a beautiful interpretation,” May said. “I feel very honoured. She’s amazing – you’re amazing! We’re all like hearts in our mouth, [it was] beautiful… I was just so moved, that was perfect, just perfect. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The Show Must Go On was Queen’s final single before Freddie Mercury’s death in 1991, co-written by May and Mercury in 1990 as a testament to Freddie’s determination to keep performing despite his private battle with AIDS. The song’s soaring vocals and stirring guitar work are widely regarded as some of Mercury’s finest.

Reflecting on the song’s creation in a 2023 Guitar World interview, May recalled how Mercury, despite severe illness, insisted on singing the challenging vocal lines. “By that time he was suffering a lot. He could hardly stand,” May explained. “I played him some of the demo, with me singing, which went incredibly high and was very difficult… But he just heard it and said, ‘I’ll f****** do that. Don’t worry.’” May recounted how Mercury downed a couple of neat vodkas, propped himself up, and delivered a vocal performance that “reached into a place that even he’d never got to before.”

First released in October 1991 on Queen’s Innuendo album, The Show Must Go On has since become a powerful anthem of resilience and artistry. It’s been covered by numerous artists and featured widely in films, television, and live tribute concerts, underscoring the lasting impact of Queen’s music even during their darkest moments.

The Polar Music Prize—often dubbed the “Nobel Prize of music”—honored Queen this year for their monumental contributions to popular music. As Brian May and Roger Taylor accepted the award in Freddie Mercury’s honor, they celebrated the enduring legacy of one of rock’s most fearless and beloved frontmen.