Cher was celebrated by a star-studded cast of talent at this year's Kennedy Center Honors, paying tribute to her decades long career. While there was no shortage of stellar performances, Adam Lambert stole the show.

The Queen front man already showed he can fill big shoes by taking over for the late Freddie Mercury, but even still, it couldn't have been easy to belt out "Believe" with Cher in the audience. Yet he turned in a powerful performance, recorded earlier this month and airing last night.

Lambert slowed down the banger and turned it into a ballad, backed by an orchestra, giving it a fresh take that displayed the song's heartbreak yet maintained its powerful edge.

It was clear he reached the room, and even the queen herself was duly impressed.

Oh, and he wasn't even done yet, coming back out to close the show with a duet with Cyndi Lauper. "I Got You, Babe," naturally.

That's how it's done!