Today show entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins fought back tears on Thursday as he spoke about the state funeral of music industry legend Michael Gudinski.
Wilkins, 66, became emotional during a live cross just hours after he attended his friend’s memorial at Melbourne‘s Rod Laver Arena.
He described the event – which featured performances from the likes of Ed Sheeran and Kylie Minogue – as ‘desperately sad but incredibly moving’.
Upset: Today show entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins fought back tears on Thursday as he spoke about the state funeral of music industry legend Michael Gudinski
Wilkins, a former pop star, described Gudinski as ‘the man who really did build the foundations of the Australian music industry’.
After a clip played of Ed Sheeran’s moving and emotional performance, Richard appeared to well up as recited some lyrics of the sad song.
‘”I wish heaven had visiting hours,” I mean God, what about that for an opening line of a song,’ Richard said.
Emotional: Wilkins, 66, became emotional during a live cross just hours after he attended his friend’s memorial at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. Pictured: Michael Gudinski
Emotional: He described the event – which featured performances from the likes of Ed Sheeran and Kylie Minogue – as ‘desperately sad but incredibly moving’
He added: ‘Michael loved his family so much and his beautiful wife Sue, his son Matt and [daughter] Kate both spoke so beautifully and agonizingly last night.’
Richard added about the memorial that it was ‘wonderful’ and had ‘lots of tears and respect.’
‘It was a wonderful show and lots of tears. And lots of respect. Love and respect for this great man who has left us and gone too soon,’ Richard said.
Gone but not forgotten: Gudinski, who was widely regarded as the ‘father of the Australian music industry’, died in his sleep earlier this month. He was laid to rest at a private funeral on March 10. His state funeral was held at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Wednesday
Gudinski, who was widely regarded as the ‘father of the Australian music industry’, died in his sleep earlier this month. He was laid to rest at a private funeral on March 10.
His state funeral was held at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Wednesday, with guests including Ed Sheeran and Kylie Minogue in attendance.
During the memorial, Ed broke down in tears as he remembered his close friendship with Michael, and delivered a fitting tribute with an emotional song about his own daughter Lyra.
Sad: Ed Sheeran performed at the state memorial and broke down in tears as he remembered his close friendship with Michael
After an emotional ceremony held at Rod Laver Arena, Kylie, 52, took to the stage to pay tribute to the man who launched her music career with a rendition of her hit The Loco-motion.
‘So, Michael – The Big G – took this little scrawny girl from Melbourne to the world and back home again,’ she said, struggling to contain her emotions.
Added the pint-sized pop star of her former mentor: ‘He made me feel 100 feet tall.’
Hitting the stage: Kylie Minogue and Ed Sheeran did a duet at the funeral in honour of Michael, who always wanted them to meet
Sweet: Kylie said Gudinski ‘believed in you when you couldn’t believe in yourself’
Kylie said Gudinski ‘believed in you when you couldn’t believe in yourself’, but said she couldn’t perform by herself.
She then called Ed, who had performed earlier, back to the stage to duet with her with the pair then breaking out in a performance of her hit single All the Lovers.
‘So Michael had long talked about his love for Ed and how we should meet, and now we finally have met properly,’ she explained, and added that Gudinski would be ‘beaming right now,’ as she and Ed launched into the duet.
Tributes poured in from artists around the world, including from Elton John, Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen.
Tributes: Tributes poured in from artists around the world, including from Elton John, Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen