Billie Eilish recently reflected on the powerful connection she feels when performing her song “The Greatest” during her ongoing Hit Me Hard and Soft tour.

In an interview with Apple Music, where she was celebrated as Artist of the Year, Eilish shared how hearing fans sing the track back to her has been an unforgettable experience.

“When I did the first show of my tour that I’m on right now, specifically, ‘The Greatest’ just has a lot of—it’s just a special one to us,” she said. “But I did ‘The Greatest’ and I took one of my in-ears out and I just like, heard this giant arena filled with people singing it. They were singing every other song too, but something about hearing that song that has this meaning for me and this memory for me, and also like the memory of us making it and what it gave us in our kind of creative spirit.”

She continued, “And just hearing that crowd sing it, it really made me like, have, you know, in front of me proof. I could see it with my eyes, I could hear it with my ears. And that is something that I hold so close to me. And every time I get a chance to really see how what I do or whatever impacts people in real time, that’s the stuff.”

“The Greatest,” which debuted live on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in June 2024, has become a highlight of her setlist. The song’s reflective lyrics include the chorus, “Man, am I the greatest/ My congratulations/ All my love and patience/ All my admiration,” have led fans to speculate whether it’s about a romantic relationship or her complex relationship with fame—something Eilish has spoken openly about throughout her career.

Eilish also touched on the emotional weight the song carries for her. “I love that song so much. It’s really, really special to me. I literally performed it the other day and cried after,” she said during a previous interview on BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders.

The live acoustic set, filmed in Los Angeles with her brother and longtime collaborator Finneas, featured a Q&A as well as renditions of hits from Eilish’s third studio album, Hit Me Hard & Soft, including “The Greatest” and “Birds of a Feather.”

Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour has been a global phenomenon, with sold-out dates and critical acclaim. Upon release, the album soared to No. 1 on Apple Music’s all-genre albums chart in 138 countries worldwide. The project also hit No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart.

Going into 2025, she’s nominated for seven Grammys. Hit Me Hard and Soft is up for album of the year and best pop vocal album, while “Birds of a Feather” snagged nominations for record of the year, song of the year and best pop solo performance. The “Over Now Extended Edit” of “L’Amour De Ma Vie” is nominated for best dance pop recording, while her Charli XCX “Guess” collaboration received a nod for best pop duo/group performance.

Fans can watch the Apple Music Artist of the Year performance, which aired live on Dec. 17, now available on demand for subscribers.