Before launching into the track, Sheeran shared a few kind words about not only the song, but also the singer behind it. "It is my favorite song of the last year," Sheeran said. "It's an instant classic. It's going to be around for a long time."

He added: "And the artist in question will be around for a long time as well." For his rendition, Sheeran stayed true to the original, letting his voice - and in turn the lyrics - remain the focus.