Pop star Sam Smith, 33, is known for their soulful, emotional voice. The British singer is also known for their boundary-pushing fashion statements, which have sometimes earned the singer negative attention and publicity. On a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Smith went back to their roots with a stripped-down cover and simple fashion choices that put the “Stay With Me” singer’s legendary voice front and center.
Earlier this month, the “I’m Not the Only One” singer embarked on a 12-show residency titled To Be Free at Warsaw in Brooklyn, New York. The concert series celebrates the singer’s recent single “To Be Free,” released on July 24, 2025. Smith gave fans a taste of the residency when they sang a rich cover of Bill Withers’ 1971 hit “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
Wearing a simple tie, vest, and trousers and accompanied by a single guitar, fans were reminded of Smith’s pitch-perfect voice as the singer shared their take on the 54-year-old classic.
Fans quickly expressed their support for Smith’s take on the song and their seemingly endless talent.
“Sam could sing the weather report and I’d still sob. But this? This is pure soul. Bill Withers would be proud,” commented one fan on a video of the performance shared to The Late Show’s social media accounts.
Another shared a similar sentiment, writing, “This man could read off and sing his grocery list and my heart would just break. I love Sam Smith.”
“Simplicity at its finest,” shared another fan. “Phenomenal performance.”
Smith burst onto the music scene with their 2014 debut album In the Lonely Hour, which explores themes of love and loneliness. A commercial success, the album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. The second-best-selling album in the UK in 2014, In the Lonely Hour featured hits like “Money on My Mind,” “Stay With Me,” “I’m Not the Only One,” and “Good Thing.”
Smith’s performance of Bill Withers’ classic “Ain’t No Sunshine” is taking fans back to the singer’s beginnings, when their voice reigned supreme.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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