Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has been full of unforgettable moments, but for Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, one of the most surreal experiences happened from a distance.
Even though “Exile,” his haunting duet with Swift from Folklore, wasn’t part of the tour’s setlist, Swift occasionally surprised fans by performing it solo. And each time she did, her audience took over Vernon’s vocals, filling stadiums with their voices.
During a recent interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Vernon opened up about what it was like watching these moments unfold from afar. He described hearing the massive crowds sing his part of “Exile” as “out of body” and admitted that they might have even done a better job than he could.
Despite the song’s popularity, Vernon never got the chance to join Swift for a live duet on the tour. However, fans did get a surprise performance back in 2022 when Swift made an unexpected appearance at a Bon Iver concert in London. That night, she joined Vernon and Aaron Dessner of The National onstage for an emotional rendition of “Exile.”
After the performance, Swift praised Vernon and Dessner, calling them “the most talented men in the world.” The energy in the venue was electric, and fans lucky enough to witness the moment still talk about it as one of Swift’s most special live appearances.
In addition to reflecting on the Eras Tour moment, Vernon shared a funny voicemail he received from his neighbor in Wisconsin. The message was about his song “Skinny Love,” a track from his 2007 album For Emma, Forever Ago that remains one of his most famous works. But the neighbor, Brian, hilariously got the song title wrong.
Brian’s wife later texted Vernon to apologize for the mistake, but the voicemail was already comedy gold.
On April 11, 2025, Vernon will release his fifth studio album under the Bon Iver moniker. Titled SABLE, fABLE, the record marks his first release since 2019’s i,i. Vernon described the album as the completion of a four-album cycle based on the seasons, calling it “a canvas for truth laid bare.”
With Bon Iver preparing to tour again and Swift’s Eras Tour continuing, fans are wondering if the two artists might finally get a chance to perform “Exile” together. Considering their past collaborations – especially their work on Folklore and Evermore – it’s not out of the question.
Until then, fans will have to settle for YouTube clips of Swift’s stadium-sized choirs giving the song new life every time she performs it.
What do you think of Bon Iver’s reaction to Swift’s crowd singing “Exile”? Let us know in the comments!
