Cynthia Erivo's Emotional Tribute to Beloved Comedian John Candy

In a heartfelt tribute to the late comedy icon John Candy, acclaimed actress and singer Cynthia Erivo has recorded a powerful cover of the 1980s ballad "Everytime You Go Away" for the upcoming documentary "John Candy: I Like Me." The film, directed by Colin Hanks, will feature Erivo's stripped-down version of the song as Candy's children, Jennifer and Christopher, and famous friends like Catherine O'Hara and Dan Aykroyd, recall the beloved actor's sudden death in 1994.

Producer Ryan Reynolds, who is also a fellow Canadian, says he originally envisioned the song being performed by a gospel choir, but after a conversation with Erivo, he knew she was the perfect choice. "Cynthia Erivo is a once-in-a-generation talent," Reynolds explains. "I called and asked her, bluntly, if she'd do the song. I needed her to do it. She doesn't just sing, she feels it in every note."

Erivo, who collaborated with producer Will Wells on the Oscar-nominated song "Stand Up" from her 2019 Harriet Tubman biopic, worked tirelessly to capture the essence of Candy's legacy. Reynolds says Erivo's haunting performance "somehow captured the joy and the loss and the enduring kindness of John Candy. It's the song it's supposed to be. And it's in the movie it's supposed to be in."