Kanye's Teary-Eyed Return To The Stage

Kanye West made his first official public appearance on Saturday since the tragic death of his mother, Donda.

The rapper soldiered on, performing in Paris for the kick-off date of his European tour.

The night was very emotional for Kanye. During the end of his set, with the riff of Hey Mama beginning, West attempted to introduce the tribute, saying "this song is for my mother…." and could get no further.

Too chocked up, Kanye had started crying.

"He just cracked," one attendee tells People, "He was at the end of his concert and had just started to dedicate the song and then he just lost it completely.

Adds another attendee, "A back-up singer, the DJ and a guitar player came over to console him. It looked like he might collapse. He just couldn't continue. He just stood there in a spotlight, crying while the band continued playing."

The audience, showing their love and support for the rapper, reacted by offering calls of encouragement, which grew into applause.

Overcome by emotion, Kanye left the stage for about 15 minutes and returned to conclude the concert with a rousing performance of Stronger..

His momma would be proud!

"He was very nervous, seemed to have gathered himself up, and had a lot of energy," one reviewer notes. "He kept shouting out to the audience, 'I need you… I need you right now.' and the public was screaming back. It was magic."

Kanye has cancelled his previously scheduled concert Monday in Amsterdam. He is expected to return to the U.S. and attend his mother's funeral in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

West then should be returning to Europe to resume his tour, Thursday night in London.

[Image via WENN.]