Ed Sheeran gives emotional performance to late friend with new song 'Visiting Hours'

Ed Sheeran wore his heart on his sleeve and gave an emotional performance to honour his late friend Michael Gudinski.

Gudinski was an Australian entrepreneur as well as a music executive who played a major role in his country’s music industry.

He had passed away at the age of 68 after reportedly suffering from a heart attack.

Sheeran performed his new song Visiting Hours in a live-streamed memorial service in which more than 7,000 people were in attendance.

Regarding his new song, the Grammy-winner said, "In [COVID-19] lockdown I was able to have a guitar for quarantine and I always find [that] the best way to process stuff [for me] is to write songs, be it good news, bad news or whatever and here is a song I finished last week."

Days after his friend's death Sheeran penned a touching post on Instagram, in which he wrote, "It's so hard to put into words how much Michael meant to me, and to all of us who knew him."

"Michael was a tornado of joy. You would know he arrived in the building just by hearing the chaotic bark of his, and you could feel the room get excited about the arrival of his presence. He was such a force, and would make everyone feel like they were the most important person to him."