Bruno Mars has paid tribute to victims of the recent US school shooting with a special performance.

The singer appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday (December 18) and he was asked by the host to open the programme with his track 'Count On Me'.

27 people - including 20 school children - were recently killed in a few moments of tragic rampage in Connecticut's Newtown, before 20-year-old gunman Adam Lanza committed suicide.

Speaking to the audience before Mars appeared on her show, Ellen said: "I think we can all agree right now we need a lot of love out there."

The 'Unorthodox Jukebox' star then played the track with only himself and a backing singer, much to the delight of the audience.

A video of the song has since been uploaded to YouTube, with the clip's information reading:

"In light of the events in Connecticut, Ellen opened her show in a special way, and asked Bruno Mars to perform this beautiful song."