Kesha gave the Billboard Awards a taste of what they’re missing when she performed the Bob Dylan cover she would have sung during her now-canceled performance with Ben Folds last night.
She delivered a heartbreaking rendition of “It Ain’t Me Babe” during the encore of Ben Folds’ show at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles with yMusic. Both artists also sang some of their own material together.
Kesha was set to perform at the Billboard Awards, but after rumors that the piece would be a statement about her ongoing legal battle with Dr. Luke, his record label rescinded their permission for Kesha to perform.
After the performance was canceled, Kesha clarified on Instagram that the rumors were untrue, and it was always meant to be a tribute to Bob Dylan.
“I simply wanted to sing a song I love to honor an artist I have always looked up to,” she wrote.
Kesha previously covered Dylan back in 2011.
Fortunately, her performance at Dylan Fest, celebrating the legend’s 75th anniversary, in Nashville just after the awards ceremony, is still on.
Kesha and Ben Folds also have a history — he covered her song “Sleazy” in 2011.
The pair finally performed “It Ain’t Me, Babe” in LA after singing Folds’ “Rock This Bitch” together.
Folds and Kesha then gave an emotional performance of his song, “Still Fighting It.”
Kesha shared a photo of Ben Folds on Instagram thanking him for letting her perform with him, cleaning her wine glass with his underwear and, “being a good friend in a scary business.”
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