Noah Kahan Delivers Emotional 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' Cover During Emmys Tribute

The 2026 Emmy Awards delivered a deeply moving tribute on Sunday night, September 14, as the television community paused to honor the creative icons lost over the past year. Staged live inside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the ceremony's annual memory segment featured an emotional musical set by singer-songwriter Noah Kahan. Taking the stage armed with an acoustic guitar and backed by a lush string section, Kahan delivered a soulful rendition of Simon & Garfunkel's timeless 1970 ballad "Bridge Over Troubled Water." His stripped-back vocal arrangement soundtracked a video montage commemorating legendary actors, including Sam Neill, Tim Curry, James Van Der Beek, and Isaiah Whitlock Jr. ## What song did Noah Kahan sing at the Emmys? Before Kahan performed his cover, the broadcast gave special recognition to comedy powerhouse Catherine O'Hara. The beloved actress passed away on January 30 as a result of a pulmonary embolism following a decorated career spanning projects like *Beetlejuice*, *Schitt's Creek*, *Home Alone*, and *The Studio*. To introduce her memorial, *Home Alone* child star Macaulay Culkin reunited with O'Hara's *Schitt's Creek* co-stars Dan Levy and Annie Murphy. Culkin shared a tender sentiment about his former movie mom, pointing out that although audiences adored her as a forgetful mother in the classic Christmas films, the entertainment world will always hold her memory close. ## Who was honored during the Emmys In Memoriam? Once Kahan concluded his musical performance, Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis stepped up to remember renowned filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner. Curtis appeared visibly overwhelmed, breaking down in tears while expressing her love and admiration for her late friend. The combination of Kahan's tender vocals, the *Schitt's Creek* reunion, and Curtis's tearful homage made the In Memoriam sequence one of the most talked-about highlights of the 2026 Emmys broadcast.