“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” That was Regina Belle’s response when she chose Peabo Bryson to record “A Whole New World” with her for Disney’s Aladdin soundtrack. And on Wednesday (June 3), one day after news of Bryson’s death at age 75, she paid tribute to the man she called her “official duet partner” in a remembrance shared with Billboard:
It is with profound grief and sadness that I share the loss of one of my dearest and closest friends yesterday, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Peabo Bryson was like a brother to me. We shared a special musical and spiritual bond developed through our love of music, family and community. I initially met Peabo during my college days at Rutgers University in New Jersey more than 30 years ago, before I signed my recording contract with Columbia Records.
A few days after his stroke on Sunday, May 31, I went to the hospital to spend some time with him and his family. During my quiet time with Peabo, I held his hand and sang in a whisper, “A Whole New World” and “Total Praise,” our version of the song that Peabo and I recorded.
The hardest part of this moment is knowing that I will never be able to sing again with the person who helped me create such magic. Peabo was far more than a legendary artist; he was my friend, my trusted collaborator and someone whose talent, kindness and generosity left an indelible mark on my life and career.
From the moment I first heard his music as a young girl, I was captivated by the beauty, warmth and power of his voice. Years later, I had the extraordinary privilege of not only sharing the stage and recording studio with him, but also sharing a friendship built on mutual respect, trust and genuine affection.
Peabo had a remarkable gift for making everyone around him feel comfortable. Whether we were performing before thousands or creating music together in the studio, he always made the experience special. He welcomed me into his world, shared his wisdom and trusted me with pieces of himself beyond the spotlight. Those moments are gifts I will cherish for the rest of my life.
I considered Peabo my official duet partner. His virtuosity as a world-class vocalist was second to none. As musicians, we had similar musical taste. I was fortunate to collaborate with him on four projects.
Winning Grammy Awards and an Academy Award together remains one of the greatest honors of my career, which also cemented our musical partnership. But the awards are only part of the story. What I treasure most are the memories, the laughter, the conversations and the privilege of creating timeless music alongside one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
While my heart is broken by this loss, I find comfort in knowing that the music we created together will live on. Those songs, those performances, and those memories can never be taken away. They are forever woven into both of our legacies. Even when I am gone, a part of me will continue to live through the music we made together, just as a part of Peabo will continue to live in the hearts of everyone he touched through his extraordinary gift.
Rest peacefully, my friend. Thank you for the music, the memories and the magic.
Prior to Bryson and Belle’s duet for Aladdin, he and Celine Dion had won the Grammy for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal for Disney’s Academy Award-winning song “Beauty and the Beast.” In addition to also winning an Oscar, Bryson and Belle’s “A Whole New World” reigned the Billboard Hot 100 and earned the duo the 1994 Grammy Award for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal.
Bryson and Belle first partnered in 1987 on “Without You,” the love theme for the comedy film Leonard Part 6. The pair would reunite on a total of four songs. Rounding out their quartet: “I Can’t Imagine” from Bryson’s 1991 album Can You Stop the Rain and the Richard Smallwood gospel anthem “Total Praise” from the 2009 compilation Songs 4 Worship Soul.
Comentarios