In a scene that few could have imagined — and none will ever forget — music icons Ed Sheeran and Celine Dion joined forces in a breathtaking performance at the private funeral of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, bringing the room to tears as they honored the man they both called “a hero before we ever met him.”
Held at Hogan’s hometown church in Clearwater, the ceremony was attended by an intimate gathering of friends, family, former WWE legends, and a few surprising guests from outside the wrestling world.
Ed, voice trembling, said: “I grew up watching him. He wasn’t just strong in the ring. He made you believe in standing tall when the world tried to knock you down. I never thought I’d sing at his funeral… but there’s nowhere else I’d want to be today.”
Celine, who flew in quietly from Montreal despite ongoing health battles, added: “When I met Hulk at a charity gala in 2012, he hugged me like I was family. That’s who he was. He made everyone feel strong. Even when he was the one suffering.”
The Song That Shattered the Silence
Then came the moment no one saw coming.
As a gentle acoustic guitar rang out, Ed and Celine performed a new, unreleased duet they had quietly written for the occasion — titled “Still Standing Tall.”
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“The ring is empty / The lights have dimmed / But echoes of your battle cry / Still live within…
You raised us up with arms of gold / You made the scared ones brave and bold…”
Celine’s crystalline voice soared on the final chorus, while Ed’s soft harmonies grounded every word in aching sincerity. At one point, Brooke Hogan was seen quietly weeping, holding her mother Sharon’s hand.
