When Sam Fender canceled his headline appearance at the 2025 Montreux Jazz Festival due to a vocal cord hemorrhage, artist Benson Boone stepped up. Moving up into the headliner spot on July 15, Boone kicked off his set by asking the crowd, “Did anyone come here to see Sam Fender?” before admitting he was “terrified” to fill in. He launched into a powerful cover of Fender’s “Seventeen Going Under,” Fender’s first viral song and a staple at concerts. The choice to cover a song for an audience who bought tickets anticipating Fender’s performance was a brave and empathetic choice for the night.

“I really hope that the people who came to see Sam today can get just five percent…out of this song because it’s a beautiful song,” Boone said before diving into the iconic rock song. His version of the cover doesn’t stray too far from Fender’s original, likely because the performance was more about paying homage to the crowd rather than to showcase whatever creative twist Boone could’ve added to the song. Both artists perform the song with incredible vocal power that carries the heart of the song. Boone’s rendition did slightly soften the grit of the original replacing jagged guitar edges with slightly more restraint in the piano-led arrangement.

After the performance, Boone signed off “I hope you’re doing well, Mr. Sam Fender. We all love you out here.” His delivery showcases his strength as an emerging pop artist through connection with his predecessors. This cover adds an emotional layer to Boone’s ongoing tour cycle behind his album American Heart and highlights his ability to honor an idol while making the moment his own. It was a poignant reminder of how music can bridge the way for human connection.

Check out Boone covering Bohemian Rhapsody with Brian May earlier this year.