The singer plays the song, inspired by Ronan Thompson who died from cancer at the age of 3 in 2011, and dedicates it to the late boy's mother Maya Thompson who was in the audience.
- Aug 19, 2015
AceShowbiz - Taylor Swift moved the crowd at her Glendale, Arizona concert to tears when she sang "Ronan", which she wrote for Ronan Thompson who died in 2011 from cancer at the age of 3. The singer delivered an emotional rendition of the track and dedicated it to the late boy's mother Maya Thompson who was in the audience.
Swift, whose own mother Andrea was recently diagnosed with cancer, got teary-eyed while introducing the song as well as Thompson. "In my opinion, one of the bravest things that a human being could ever do is to go through something absolutely unbearable and then share their experience with the world. And I think the braver you are, the more brutally honest you are," the 25-year-old superstar said to the screaming crowd.
"There's a woman here tonight named Maya Thompson... And I wouldn't know half as much as I know about childhood cancer and childhood cancer research if she hadn't shared her story about her son Ronan," she continued.
"The thing about childhood cancer is that it's really really hard to talk about. And it's really not something that you bring up... but the fact that she brought it up, she had this blog called Rockstar Ronan and I would read it every night. And in it was this account of what it was like to watch cancer take over my life. And since then, I've had cancer hit really close to me in my family," she added.
That night marked Swift's second time to have performed "Ronan" live. She previously did so during the "Stand Up yo Cancer" telethon in 2012. Following the Monday concert, Thompson posted an Instagram video of Swift talking about cancer on the stage, and wrote in the caption, " I still can't believe tonight. I still can't believe you did this. This will forever be one of the most special moments of my life. Thank you @taylorswift for your beautiful heart and for never forgetting my Ro. I love you to the moon and back."
She also shared a photo of her posing with the "Shake It Off" hitmaker backstage. "I love you. @taylorswift You have my heart for the rest of my life and beyond," she said.
