Stevie Wonder learned of the death of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., 81, on stage Saturday night and dedicated a cover of Billy Joel's 1977 song "Just the Way You Are" to the late senator, People magazine reported.
Wonder was playing before a sold-out crowd at The Borgata in Atlantic City amid his summer concert tour, "Stevie Wonder Song Party: A Celebration of Life, Love, and Music."
"This song goes out to Sen. John McCain," Wonder told the crowd to cheers. "I wanted to see him before he left this planet, but I didn't see him. I didn't get the chance. But he grew to know compassion was not about any political party. It was about loving people for just the way they are.
"God bless his soul. Let us send his family love. I send you all my love, all my prayers."
The late Aretha Franklin was also mentioned multiple times by Wonder throughout the night. Franklin, 76, succumbed to advanced pancreatic cancer Aug. 19, her publicist confirmed to People.
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