The Kid Laroi delivered one of the warmest surprises at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in Los Angeles when he covered Justin Bieber’s holiday classic Mistletoe. What started as a quiet moment onstage quickly turned into one of the most shared clips of the night as fans recognised the familiar melody and erupted in excitement.
This performance also felt like a genuine tribute to Laroi and Bieber’s friendship, a connection that has shaped some of the biggest moments in their careers. The two formed a strong bond during the making of Stay, a song that dominated charts worldwide and cemented their creative chemistry. Since then, their relationship has grown beyond music, with both artists frequently speaking about how much they learned from each other during that period of their lives.
Laroi has often credited Bieber for guiding him through the pressures of sudden fame, calling him a mentor and a friend during a time when everything felt overwhelming. Bieber has expressed equal admiration, saying Laroi reminds him of his younger self and praising the Australian star for his talent and work ethic.
That history made this Mistletoe cover feel more meaningful than a simple holiday performance. Laroi stripped the arrangement down and leaned into a soft, emotional delivery, almost as if he were singing directly to a friend rather than a crowd. It carried the nostalgia of their early sessions together and the warmth of an artistic partnership that audiences still miss seeing onstage.
Fans online instantly connected the dots, sharing clips with captions about how Laroi continues to honour Bieber even when they are not actively collaborating. Many called it one of the most sincere moments of the night, a reminder of how authentic their friendship has always been despite fame, distance and busy schedules.
With this unexpected tribute, Laroi once again showed how much respect he holds for Bieber, and why their bond continues to resonate with fans everywhere. As holiday performances go, this was one of the most heartfelt and memorable ones of the season.
