Whoopi Goldberg got emotional on The View in the final hours before the 2024 presidential election, as she paused coverage of the contentious cycle to honor her late friend and collaborator, Quincy Jones, who died Sunday night at age 91.

The 68-year-old Oscar winner took a moment Monday to remember Jones on the live broadcast, after the pair became close whenJones became a producer on Goldberg’s 1985 drama The Color Purple, adapted from writer Alice Walker’s novel of the same name.

“I can’t even explain what’s happening in my head right now,” Goldberg said as she transitioned from discussing the election to highlighting Jones’ life and career. “We just lost the extraordinary Quincy Jones, songwriter, composer, producer, he worked with everybody.”

She pointed out Jones’ contributions to pop culture, from working with Michael Jackson to his work with her.

“Of course, he was the composer on The Color Purple, which is how I met Quincy. What I can tell you is, in three words, is that I had no better friend, he never left, when other people were flocking away, Q stayed, and he always told me to stand my ground,” Goldberg continued. “I do and always will. I also want to tell people that he’s going to be receiving an honorary Oscar this year, and the last thing I’ll tell you, he’s such a prolific composer. He composed stuff you probably didn’t even know was his.”

She then pointed to a popular piece of music that might shock the audience to know he worked on: “Soul Bossa Nova,” a 1962 composition Mike Myers re-popularized by using it in the 1997 film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly‘s free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

“We’re going to go out on that,” Goldberg said, as the song carried the show to a commercial break on a jovial note.

Earlier Monday morning, Goldberg shared an Instagram Story commemorating Jones’ life, writing, “Quincy Jones was my friend, and was one of a kind. I was lucky enough to have him in my life all these years. My heart is breaking for his family & his extended family who loved and adored him.. my condolences.”

Goldberg and Jones both previously contributed to the wide-ranging success of director Steven Spielberg’s Color Purple film, with Jones not only composing the film’s score, but he also co-produced the project and was instrumental in its gestation and casting — particularly with regard to roles eventually played by Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. Jones also orchestrated the film’s original soundtrack song “Miss Celie’s Blues,” which was nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar in 1986.

The View airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on ABC.