Leslie Odom, Jr. Sings “Rent” Classic as 2026 Tony Awards In Memoriam Honors Diane Keaton, Robert Redford and More

Dave Quinn, Tabitha ParentMon, June 8, 2026 at 2:44 AM UTC

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Leslie Odom Jr. performs the 'In Memoriam' tribute at the 79th Annual Tony Awards in New York City on June 7, 2026.Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty -

Leslie Odom Jr. performed "Without You" from Rent during the 2026 Tony Awards' In Memoriam segment

The tribute honored theater and entertainment figures who died in the past year, while also paying homage to the 30th anniversary of Rent

Pink hosts the 79th annual ceremony, which celebrates the best of Broadway

Leslie Odom Jr. helped the theater community remember those who they've lost over the past year during the 2026 Tony Awards.

During Broadway's biggest night on Sunday, June 7, the 44-year-old actor took to the stage at Radio City Music Hall to perform "Without You" from Rent as part of the ceremony's annual In Memoriam segment, honoring artists from the industry who died in 2025 and 2026.Included in the slideshow playing behind Odom on the screen as he sang the Rent classic were the likes of Diane Keaton (who began her acting career on Broadway in Hair), Robert Redford, Robert Duvall and producer Robert Fox. Additional Broadway greats who were remembered included acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard (Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia), director Mark Brokaw (How I Learned to Drive), actor Harris Yulin (The Price, The Diary of Anne Frank), performer Carmen de Lavallade (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Boys Choir of Harlem and Friends) and Sondra Lee, who created the role of Tiger Lily opposite Mary Martin in Peter Pan and originated Minnie Fay in the original production of Hello, Dolly!The tribute concluded with a quote from Rent's director Jonathan Larson: "Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way, no day but today."

Odom's appearance at the Tonys comes amid a milestone year for the actor. Earlier this season, he returned to Broadway to reprise his Tony Award-winning role as Aaron Burr in Hamilton, joining the production's 10th-anniversary celebration.

The tribute also coincided with the 30th anniversary of Larson's groundbreaking musical, which premiered Off-Broadway in 1996 before transferring to Broadway and becoming a cultural phenomenon. "Without You," sung in the show's second act, is one of Rent's most emotional ballads and reflects on love, loss and grief — themes that have long resonated with the show's audience. The song also holds a special place in Odom's heart as he made his Broadway debut in the 1998 production of the show.

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Leslie Odom, Jr., backstage at 'Hamilton' on BroadwayCredit: Jenny Anderson

Presented by The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, the Tony Awards are considered the most prestigious honors in theater, recognizing excellence across acting, directing, design and more. They're the "T" in EGOT — the grand slam of show business that also represents the top awards in television (Emmy), music (Grammy) and film (Oscar).

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Hosted by Pink, the 2026 Tony Awards are airing from Radio City Music Hall on both coasts on CBS and Paramount+.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”