Boy George breaks down during emotional performance on The Voice

BOY George has broken down in tears during an emotional performance on The Voice last night.

BOY George has broken down in tears following an emotional performance on The Voice by a contestant who’s mother vanished nearly two decades ago.

Sarah Stone’s mum Linda hasn’t been seen since dropping her young children off at Croydon Hills Primary School in Melbourne 17 years ago.

The 23-year-old dedicated her live performance of Sara Bareilles’ Gravity to her missing parent on last night’s show, but began to cry while singing the lyrics “something always brings me back to you” — causing judge Boy George to follow suit.

The pair had connected over the tragic situation during the pre-taped coaching session over the past week, with Stone revealing to George that she felt an affinity with him as her mother had been a “huge fan”.

The 55-year-old British singer encouraged her to embrace that raw emotion.

“I look at you and I see there’s so much vulnerability and pain in your eyes,” he said.

“The more fragility and realness you can bring to this performance, the more people are just going to fall madly in love with you.”

He echoed the sentiment after her live performance, telling her he was “struggling”.

“You are Australia’s daughter and God bless you, I hope everyone votes for you,” he said, while wiping away tears.

“That was such a beautiful performance, I’m struggling.”

Earlier in the series, George generously offered to send a teenage contestant to Nashville in a heartwarming scene.

It came after 17-year-old country-singing Queenslander Heath Milner belted out Much Too Young by Garth Brooks, but didn’t manage to turn a single chair.

When Seal then told the teenager he “wasn’t special enough” to earn a spot on his team, George stepped in.

“I think that what’s great about you is that you’re the real deal,” the star told him. “You’ve found something that you love. You’re wearing it. You’re living it. You’re breathing it. That’s amazing.”

He suggested Milner head over to the country capital of the world — Nashville — to cultivate his talent.

“If you go to Nashville, you’ll work with people that also love what you do and you’ll be bathed in love,” George said. “I would definitely talk to Dad and Mum and get that ticket.”

However, moments later he decided to sort it out himself.

“Maybe I’ll pay for your ticket to Nashville ... in fact, I will pay for your ticket to Nashville!”

Originally published as Boy George breaks down during emotional performance on The Voice