Honestly, if you haven’t seen the clip of Benson Boone singing Adele yet, your FYP is probably broken. It happened in Columbus, Ohio. August 25. The Nationwide Arena was packed, and the "Beautiful Things" singer decides to take a massive risk. He covers "When We Were Young."
People lost it.
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I’m not just talking about the screaming fans in the front row. I’m talking about the cynical corners of the internet that usually spend their time calling Boone "youth pastor pop." Suddenly, everyone realized this kid has actual pipes. He didn't just sing the song; he hit the original key. That's a death trap for most male vocalists.
The Night Benson Boone Singing Adele Went Viral
Most artists stick to a safe setlist. You do the hits, you do the TikTok trending sounds, and you go home. But during his American Heart World Tour, Boone started leaning into these soul-crushing ballads that felt... different.
When he stood there in a black vest and black pants, looking like he was about to do a backflip but instead opening his mouth to sing Adele, the vibe shifted. It wasn't just a cover. It was a statement. You’ve seen the comments on X and TikTok. People were literally questioning if it was a "Milli Vanilli situation" because his vocal control was so tight.
The clip from Columbus became a "canon event" for his career.
It’s kind of funny because some people actually liked the cover more than his own discography. One user on X, @arianaslyre, basically said Boone is doing the wrong genre of music. They suggested he should ditch the upbeat pop-rock and just become a blue-eyed soul singer. While that might be a stretch, the raw vulnerability he showed—the kind that mirrors Adele’s own emotional depth—is hard to ignore.
Why "When We Were Young" Was the Perfect Choice
Adele’s music is technically demanding. It requires a mix of chest voice power and a very specific, breathy head voice. Benson Boone singing Adele works because his natural range is ridiculously high.
- The Key: He stayed in the original key. Most guys drop it at least a whole step.
- The Texture: He has this gravelly, raspy edge that kicks in when he pushes his belts.
- The Connection: Like Adele, he doesn't just sing notes; he looks like he's going through a mid-life crisis at age 23.
It wasn’t just a one-off thing in Ohio, either. He’s been sprinkling in other Adele gems. On October 8, 2025, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, he dropped a rendition of "All I Ask." If you think "When We Were Young" is hard, "All I Ask" is a vocal marathon. The crowd went silent. That rare, "you could hear a pin drop" kind of silent.
Is He Changing His Sound?
There’s a lot of chatter about where Benson goes from here. His debut album Fireworks & Rollerblades was a massive success, but it was very high-energy. The Benson Boone singing Adele moments have shown a different side—a more mature, "Old Soul" version of the guy who used to just be known for American Idol and TikTok flips.
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Critics who called his music "hollow" or "performative" are finding it harder to talk trash. Even the people who don't like his original songs admit the technique is there. It’s the best PR he could have ever done. By tackling a legend like Adele, he’s essentially graduated from "influencer musician" to "vocalist."
It makes you wonder if his next project will lean into that 2015-era soulful balladry.
He’s already covered Harry Styles' "Sign of the Times" and Lady Gaga's "Shallow." He’s clearly testing the waters to see how far he can push his voice. But Adele remains the gold standard. If you can survive an Adele cover without the internet roasting you to a crisp, you’ve basically made it.
How to Catch These Performances
If you're trying to see this live, you've got to keep an eye on his "surprise song" segment. He doesn't do it every night. He’s also performed "Someone Like You" at select stops, though "When We Were Young" remains the fan favorite.
What you should do next:
- Check the 2026 Tour Dates: He’s still touring internationally. Look for the "Heart Stage" segments of his show—that’s usually where the acoustic magic happens.
- Watch the Columbus Video: Search for the 4K fan-cams of the Columbus, Ohio show. The audio quality on those is surprisingly better than the short TikTok snippets.
- Listen to "Slow It Down" (Live): If you like his Adele covers, his live version of his own song "Slow It Down" uses a lot of the same vocal "crying" techniques.
He isn't just a kid with a mustache and a dream anymore. He's a singer who can stand toe-to-toe with the hardest discographies in pop music. Whether you're a fan of his original stuff or not, the sheer talent displayed when Benson Boone is singing Adele is impossible to deny. Keep an eye on his socials for the next tour leg; he’s likely to add even more of these "powerhouse" covers as he finds his footing in this new, soul-driven era.