Prince Made Martin Go Blank On Stage

During a performance of the musical Rent, actor Jesse L. Martin was so starstruck by Prince's presence in the audience that he momentarily forgot his lines. Martin, who originated the role of Tom Collins, was singing a key song when he recognized the music legend. Despite the lapse, he was later told his performance was unaffected.

Prince, described as "wildly beautiful" by Martin, met the cast backstage after the show, surprising them with his graciousness. The musical, which ran from January 1996 to September 2008, attracted numerous celebrities, including politicians like Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Martin humorously recalled planning to make a joking reference to Bill Clinton's famous "didn't inhale" quote during a song about marijuana. However, he became too nervous upon seeing the former president in the audience and ultimately skipped the line. Fortunately, audience members familiar with the show helped fill in the lyrics when Martin faltered.