One of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s closest — and perhaps most unlikely — friends on Capitol Hill was conservative Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who came together with the Massachusetts Democrat on a number of legislative issues despite the pair’s ideological differences.

[IMGCAP(1)]When Kennedy announced last year that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer, Hatch turned into the Senate’s version of Elton John, writing a musical tribute, titled “Headed Home,— in honor of his friend.

Crooner Tony Middleton went on to record the ballad (listen to it here), and Hatch told the Boston Globe at the time that the song’s lyrics referred to Kennedy returning home to his place in the Senate.

In a statement released today, Hatch remembered Kennedy as “a treasured friend.—

“When I first came to the United States Senate I was filled with conservative fire in my belly and an itch to take on any and everyone who stood in my way, including Ted Kennedy,— Hatch said. “As I began working within the confines of my office I soon found out that while we almost always disagreed on most issues, once in a while we could actually get together and find the common ground.—

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