Losing a child has to be the most heartbreaking tragedy anyone can endure. Losing a baby is even worse.

Many people don’t discuss miscarriage, but more and more women are being open and honest about the pregnancies that have ended in miscarriage.

One reason pregnancy loss often isn’t discussed or ever even public knowledge is that the majority of miscarriages happen early on in the first few weeks and months of pregnancy, often before a woman tells more than immediately family and very close friends about the baby on the way.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are living through the tragedy of a pregnancy that didn’t end as expected. Their son, Jack, was born prematurely and died in the hospital. 

Teigen announced the heartbreaking news on Instagram including several photos taken at the hospital. She and Legend have been grieving privately and have mainly been staying out the public eye…until now.

Kelly Clarkson stood on the stage at the Billboard Music Awards and took her time introducing the next performer, John Legend. 

“I want to take a moment to talk about a friend who inspires me on the daily not only as a musician and a songwriter, but as a human. John Legend is one of my favorite people on this planet, and it’s easy for us all to feel that way about them, because he and Chrissy just have this warm way of inviting us into their world — the highs and the lows. My heart, obviously all of our hearts, go out to you both in this very difficult time, and I’m thankful that you continue to share your light and your talent with all of us for the very special performance, possibly my favorite of the night.”

Everyone would have understood if Legend hadn’t wanted to perform, but instead, he took the opportunity to perform an emotional tribute to his wife.

When you listen to the words to Legend’s song, it’s hard to imagine how he managed to get through the performance without completely breaking down. Watch Legend’s full performance below.