Tom Jones created a magical moment on The Voice UK when he sang a nostalgic duet with LeAnn Rimes on The Everly Brothers’ “Let It Be Me.” The 1960 hit ballad was the perfect platform for a romantic duet, with Jones’s rich baritone providing a classy opening. The 84-year-old hitmaker has always had one of the best voices in the biz and absolutely nothing about that has changed. Tiger’s still got it, folks! Rimes matched Jones note for note, and her yearning soprano was the perfect counterpoint to his baritone.
Jones suggested “Let It Be Me” when Rimes asked him what song he wanted to pick, which was a great choice since you can tell how much he loves the timeless ballad. As for Rimes, she admitted it was a dream for her to sing with Jones, and her big smile throughout the performance really said it all! The Music Man has to say the cover really hit the spot – and the crowd agreed, as you could see audience members tearing up at several points.
The Voice UK uploaded the “Let It Be Me” duet on November 13, 2024, and it has hit 1.6 million views since then. Viewers at home were big fans of the spontaneous collab and added comments such as “84 years old with a voice so beautiful and strong that it brings tears, What a beautiful duet” and “Man his voice is so rich, nothing like any other singer of his generation. LeeAnn blends in well with her beautiful tones.”
When it comes to iconic duets, Jones fans have so many to choose from. One of The Music Man’s favorites came when Tiger sang with Jessie J at the Grammys. Talk about having a ton of vocal talent on one stage! Jones opened up the song with an elegant verse, while Jessie impressed with a soaring second verse. Needless to say, when the pair sang the main hook together, they brought the house down!
The Everly Brothers released “Let It Be Me” in 1960. The song was originally recorded by Gilbert Bécaud as a French language tune titled “Je t’appartiens.” American songsmith Manny Curtis subsequently created a version of the song with English lyrics. This English version was first recorded in 1957 by Linda Wallis for the TV series Climax! Artists such as Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell with Bobbie Gentry subsequently scored minor hits with “Let It Be Me.” However, the best-known version remains the 1960 Everly Brothers recording, which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.