Sombr opened the 2026 MTV VMAs George Michael tribute on Sept. 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, performing“Faith”and“Father Figure.”But the talking point wasn’t the setlist. It was the jacket. A spokesperson confirmed the 21-year-old wore one of Michael’s personal customized leather jackets from the Faith era, a black Harley-Davidson piece detailed with chain links and pins.
If that jacket looks familiar, it should. Michael wore it on his 1988-1989 Faith tour and in a 1989 Diet Coke commercial. Sombr told Vogue he grew up listening to Michael’s music and called him a big inspiration, adding that wearing a jacket so synonymous with that era was“pretty surreal, and an honor.”
The tribute also featured RAYE, Teddy Swims, Adam Lambert, MNEK, MEEK, and Saint Harison, and it arrived nearly 10 years after Michael’s death on Christmas 2016. The rare use of his actual wardrobe gave fans something tangible to hold onto, while Sombr’s rising profile carried the moment to a younger crowd.
Would you want to see more tributes use the original artist’s real wardrobe, or should iconic pieces stay in the archive? Tell us below.
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Local Lawton
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