Lea Michele Gives Tearful Tribute at Teen Choice Awards

Lea Michele tearfully thanked fans and honored her late co-star and boyfriend, Cory Monteith, at the Teen Choice Awards. INSIDE EDITION has the details.

It was a heartbreaking moment at Sunday night's Teen Choice Awards as Glee star Lea Michele broke down crying over her late co-star and boyfriend, Cory Monteith.

Michele said, "I want to dedicate this award to Cory. He was very special to me and also to the world. We were very lucky to witness his incredible talent, his handsome smile and his beautiful, beautiful heart."

Monteith died last month of a drug and alcohol overdose at age 31. Lea Michele, who wore a necklace with Monteith's name on it, fought back tears as she accepted her award for Best Actress in a comedy.

"I just wanted to be here today to personally thank all of you and tell everyone out there how much your love and support has meant to me over these very difficult few weeks," she told the audience.

Moments earlier, the  cast of Glee, minus Michele had come onstage to accept the award for Best Comedy. Cast members Jenna Ushkowitz and Amber Riley paid tribute to Monteith in their acceptance speeches.

Riley said, "Cory was like a brother to us."

Ushkowitz told the crowd, "On behalf of our brother, we know that Cory would want to dedicate this award to you guys."

Nobody expected to see Michele, which was why everyone was shocked when she was announced as the winner of the very next prize and walked out to accept it. Cast members hugged her, and Michele's heartfelt tribute to her late boyfriend is being hailed by her many fans on the internet.

"My heart goes out to her," wrote one fan.

"She's so strong and I wish her nothing but the best," said another.

Yet another fan wrote: "Lea's lovely speech just about broke my heart."

It was the emotional highlight of an otherwise boisterous evening. The revealing leather outfit Miley Cyrus wore sent the crowd into a frenzy. And the double-slit green dress worn by Selena Gomez was another show-stopper.

The boy band One Direction drove the crowd wild, especially when singer Harry Styles did some impromptu "twerking."

Did he regret it? Well, he later tweeted: "Note to self - don't twerk."

But the night belonged to Lea Michelle, and her tribute to her beloved.

"Cory reached out and became a part of our hearts, and that's where he'll stay forever. So thank you guys so much," she concluded.