Bruno Mars paid a heartfelt tribute to late singer Amy Winehouse on Sunday night, belting out a version of Valerie at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.

Mars, joined by a big band and doo-wop backing vocals, performed in front of a screen that displayed images of the late singer.

In the star-studded audience, Adele was seen singing along, while Taylor Lautner kept up with the beat by patting his knee. Katy Perry and Russell Brand also watched with tearful eyes.

On the red carpet, Brand talked about his first encounter with the late singer.

She was a mate of mine and tragically this year we lost her . . . first time I met her, she was kind of like a daft, dopey person, just wandering around a little bit crazy like a lot of people who are drawn to big cities with a peculiar, unknowable talent, Brand told MTV.

During the performance, Mars, 25, got the crowd involved in a shout-out to Winehouse.

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Families Of Trapped Mexican Miners Pray For MiraclePut your hands together for Amy . . . Say Amy, oh Amy/I love you darling . . . Say Amy, whoa Amy, we'll miss you baby, he sang.

Valerie, made popular by Winehouse and Mark Ronson in 2007, is actually an original song from the English indie rock band The Zutons.

Tony Bennett also remembered Winehouse at the VMAs, sharing special footage of him recording with Winehouse at London's Abbey Road Studios. The pair got together in March to record Body and Soul for Bennett's upcoming Duets II album, scheduled for a Sept. 14 release.

When you listen to 'Body and Soul,' it is a testament to her artistic genius and her brilliance as one of the most honest musicians I have ever known, Bennett told Rolling Stone last week.

Winehouse, 27, was found dead in her London home on July 23, shocking the music world and beyond. Her family recently confirmed that while alcohol was present at the time of her death, no drugs were found in Winehouse's system, ruling out any cases of overdose.

Scroll down for Bruno Mars' performance of Valerie at the 2011 MTV VMAs.

Mars