The Barclays Center in Brooklyn was buzzing with excitement on Tuesday, 4 November, 2025, but the audience got more than they expected.
Midway through his Get Lifted 20th Anniversary Tour performance, multi-platinum singer-songwriter John Legend welcomed a surprise guest to the stage — none other than 90s icon Lauryn Hill.
Cheers erupted as Hill, known for her timeless hits and powerful voice, joined Legend for a special performance of Everything Is Everything.
But this was more than a spontaneous musical moment.
In a reflective Instagram post following the show, Hill revealed that her appearance was the culmination of a connection that began 27 years ago.
She reflected on meeting a young “Johnny” — as one of her former schoolmates fondly called him — and collaborating with him early in his career, long before he became the Grammy-winning artist fans know today.
Sharing a look at her journey with Johnny, Hill wrote:
“Twenty-seven years ago I was introduced to a young man named John, or as Tara Michel, my former schoolmate and then background vocalist referred to him, ‘Johnny’. We were looking for someone to add ‘sauce’ to a then stripped down version of Everything Is Everything. He played piano with soul, beauty, reverence and intention for the soul legacy that preceded us. John laid down the near ‘perfectly imperfect’ piano takes we needed, the rest is history.
“Not long after, John ‘Johnny’ Legend would become a multi-platinum, multi-award winning recording artist, soulfully penning and crooning his own world-stirring classics. He invited me to join him on stage last night at the Barclays Center. This was an appearance twenty-seven years in the making. Thank you for the invitation John, and congratulations on a beautiful performance! Shout out to Tara Michel for always talking up ‘Johnny’ and his brilliance,” wrote Hill.
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[…] HAVE YOU READ THIS: When ‘Johnny’ Became Legend: Lauryn Hill reflects on 27 Years with John Legend […]
[…] HAVE YOU READ THIS: When ‘Johnny’ Became Legend: Lauryn Hill reflects on 27 Years with John Legend […]