Eddie Vedder Honors Clarence Clemons With Touching Performance on ‘Letterman’ [VIDEO]

It isn’t often that you get to hear someone strumming a ukulele on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman,’ but the host made an exception Monday night for the performer he says “single-handedly made [it] cool.”

We’re talking, of course, about Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, currently out making the promotional rounds in support of his new solo album, the aptly titled ‘Ukulele Songs.’ Vedder — who Letterman says was “nice enough to actually give me a guitar, and it occupies a position of honor in my home” — plunked down on a stool for a solo performance of ‘Without You,’ offering silent tribute to the recently deceased Clarence Clemons by way of a simple inscription, reading ‘CLARENCE,’ on his ukulele.

It seems safe to say Letterman enjoyed the song, too. After it was over, he informed the audience, “If I had this voice, you could all kiss my ass.”

Vedder is currently wrapping up the latest round of dates on his solo tour, which wraps up July 15 in Seattle. Since its May 31 release, ‘Ukulele Songs’ has peaked at number four on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. He plans to reconvene with Pearl Jam later in the year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band’s debut album, ‘Ten,’ with a festival, documentary, and book.