James Kennedy Remembers George Michael on the One-Year Anniversary of His Death

George Michael was known simply as "Uncle George" to James Kennedy when he was growing up, because James' father Andros Georgiou was a childhood friend of Michael's and ran his record label Aegean Records in the mid-'90s. The Vanderpump Rules DJ marked the one-year anniversary of the late music icon's untimely passing with a short but sweet tribute on Instagram.

James Kennedy Remember His Godfather, George Michael

Five weeks after his passing in 2016, James shared some of his fond childhood memories of the singer with The Daily Dish.

"You know, he was just Uncle George, really," he recalled. "He didn't really give me advice. I was very young. I wasn't into music yet. I was like a baby. He was just Uncle George and [he'd] pop me on his lap and stuff like that. I knew he was a singer like, 'Uncle George is a singer.' It's not like I didn't [know] who he was at the time ... He was a family member and was there when we were growing up, so it was two sides, I guess. His music changed the world, but he also was just a normal, beautiful person at home."

Sadly, last year James was planning a trip to London to visit his father and was going to try to contact Michael for the first time in more than a decade, but he passed away a week before he got there.

"It was heartbreaking. I still had to come out to England and pretty much spent time with my dad and just talked, and it was a crazy, crazy time."

Michael's family, who referred to the singer as Yog, released a statement to mark the anniversary.

"Yog, who loved Christmas, and always hoped it would snow… would want each of you that admired and loved him, (yes — he knows you did!!) to take a moment, raise a glass, enjoy his music and think of him fondly, making sure to enjoy your time with, and appreciate your family and friends."