Ronan Keating was deeply devastated in 2009 when his close friend and fellow Boyzone member, Stephen Gately, tragically passed away at just 33 while vacationing in Majorca.
Over the past decade, Ronan has paid tribute to Stephen in many heartfelt ways, and he recently opened up about a particularly emotional collaboration with none other than Robbie Williams—a song dedicated entirely to Stephen’s memory.
In an interview with Goss.ie, Ronan shared how the touching project came to be, revealing that the track, written by former Take That star Robbie, moved him to tears the first time he heard it.
“Robbie messaged me out of nowhere,” Ronan explained. “It was around the 10th anniversary of Stephen’s passing, and the Boyzone lads and I were filming a TV show in London. Robbie watched the show and sent me an email that same night.”
He continued, “He wrote, ‘Hey Ro, I’ve got this song I penned the week Stephen passed away.’ I was standing in my kitchen listening to it, and the tears just started flowing.”
Ronan said he instantly knew they had to collaborate: “I told him, ‘Let’s do something with it together—it would be really special.’ And that’s how the track came to life.”
The emotional duet, titled “The Big Goodbye,” was featured on Ronan Keating’s 2020 album Twenty Twenty, released in late July. The song stands as a moving tribute to Stephen’s legacy and the enduring bond between the two friends.