Ed Sheeran Bids Emotional Farewell To Mentor Michael Gudinski, Performs New Song

Ed Sheeran honored his late friend and mentor, Michael Gudinski, on Wednesday during a live-streamed memorial service.

The 30-year-old singer got emotional during the tribute performance held at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia, and revealed he had been quarantined for two weeks in order to attend the event in person.

The singer performed a new song, "Visiting Hours," for the late Australian entrepreneur and music executive, who was referred to as the "father of the Australian music industry."

"In [COVID-19] lockdown I was able to have a guitar for quarantine and I always find [that] the best way to process stuff [for me] is to write songs, be it good news, bad news or whatever and here is a song I finished last week," Sheeran said.

"I wish that heaven had visiting hours / So I just could show up / And bring good news / That she's getting older / And I wish that you'd met her / The things that she'll learn from me / I got them all from you," he sang.

Gudinski died on March 2 at the age of 68 at his Melbourne home in Australia. While the cause of death was not revealed, Sydney radio station 2GB reported Gudinski suffered a heart attack.

Sheeran had taken to Instagram on March 2 and penned an emotional message, "It's so hard to put into words how much Michael meant to me, and to all of us who knew him... Michael was a tornado of joy."

"You would know he arrived in the building just by hearing the chaotic bark of his, and you could feel the room get excited about the arrival of his presence...," he added. "We were, first and foremost, friends. He was a father figure and mentor to me."

On the work front, the singer revealed on Instagram on Feb. 17, "I’ll be back online with the 4th instalment in the series later this year, until then."

Since then, fans have been speculating the singer hinted toward his debut album, "+" (plus) and the fourth installment might be titled, "-" (minus).