Watch Michael Stipe Sing Happy Birthday to Patti Smith

Patti Smith celebrated her 68th birthday with a two-show stint in New York City that ended last night (Dec. 30) with a rousing rendition of 'Happy Birthday" led by Michael Stipe.

The former R.E.M. frontman, celebrity chef Mario Batali and Smith's band belted out the song to a shocked yet happy Smith, who also had a cake with candles to blow out. The moment was topped off with a sprinkling of white balloons that blew the singer-songwriter away. "Thank you to all my friends," she said. "You're all my friends.

Stipe -- who surprised everyone the night before with an unannounced opening set (his first since R.E.M. broke up in 2011) -- returned to the stage for a short opening set prior to Smith's performance in a packed Webster Hall. Stipe's set included songs like 'New Test Leper' and Frank Sinatra's 'New York, New York.'

Check out video of the moment: