When 17-year-old Josh Groban stepped in to replace Andrea Bocelli and perform “The Prayer” with Celine Dion at a late-90s awards ceremony rehearsal, it became a defining moment in his music career, showing that life-changing opportunities can come with just a phone call.
In 1999, during the Grammy Awards rehearsal, a nervous Groban, then an unknown high school student, was asked to fill in for the world-renowned tenor Bocelli, who was unable to make it. Groban had been studying at a Los Angeles high school located on the California State University campus, where he received a conservatory-style arts education. A year earlier, he had connected with Canadian music producer David Foster, who was working with stars like Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand.
Foster, who co-wrote “The Prayer” for Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, called Groban with an urgent request—Bocelli couldn’t attend the rehearsal, and Foster needed a substitute. Groban, who had previously sung for Foster, was nervous but ultimately agreed. He wasn’t sure if he was up to the challenge of performing alongside Dion, one of the world’s biggest stars, at such a prestigious event.
Dion later recalled the moment, saying Groban appeared scared when he first walked on stage but impressed everyone when he began to sing. “He couldn’t have been more powerful,” she said. His performance caught the attention of the rehearsal audience, including Rosie O’Donnell, who invited him to appear on her show. This led to further exposure, including a regular role on Ally McBeal.
Groban’s career took off from that point. In 2002, he performed “The Prayer” with Charlotte Church at the Winter Olympics closing ceremony and reunited with Dion in 2009 to perform the song once again, reflecting on their unforgettable first duet.
