BROOKLYN, New York — Watching Macklemore & Ryan Lewis perform at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards was moving, but for singer Mary Lambert, who was actually performing the track, it was a bundle of emotions.
“It was really exhilarating. It was like all of these rush of things, but then right before, I was super calm, like, ‘We got this,’ ” she told MTV News not long after accepting the Best Video With a Social Message alongside her Seattle collaborators.
During the trio’s VMA performance on Sunday night, Macklemore delivered the song’s poignant rhymes with a heartfelt delivery, while Lambert sang the hook. Jennifer Hudson kicked the set up a notch with her surprise cameo toward the end of the song. To close, J-Hud and Lambert faced each other and had a good old-fashioned sing-off before sharing a hug. It was just one of many VMA moments for Lambert.
“That was so cool,” the singer told us. “In rehearsals, I was like, ‘How can I not talk about this [cameo]? I have to keep my mouth shut.’ It was really hard,” Lambert admitted. “[Hudson’s] a phenomenal singer and a phenomenal person, performer — all of it.”
Macklemore, Ryan and Mary shared in a few more special surprises backstage at the Barclays when they all bumped into Kanye West. Mack gave the G.O.O.D. Music MC a pound and a hug before showering him with praise. “Thank you for raising the bar as an artist for us. I appreciate it,” the Seattle MC said, before also congratulating ‘Ye on his performance. West seemed appreciative, reaching out to shake hands with Lewis and hug Lambert.
Apart from all the festivities, Lambert, who’s openly gay, was proud of the statement she was able to make with her collaborators. “It’s really incredible to be a part of such an incredible social movement and to have the support and to go around the world and say, ‘What’s up? I’m gay,’ and have everyone support,” she said. “That is really cool.”
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