Despite having previously said no to performing at former president Donald Trump’s inauguration, Sir Elton John, 75, seemed to be in his element on Friday at the special concert in Washington.
John performed on the White House grounds for Joe Biden and roughly 2,000 supporters as part of his farewell tour, breaking down in tears when the president presented him with a medal.
President Biden introduced the celebrity and said: “Like so many Americans, our family loves his music. It’s clear Elton John’s music has changed our lives.”
In his 2017 autobiography,the president claimed to have sung Crocodile Rock to his son Beau both as a young boy and again when the boy battled illness.
At the concert on Friday, Sir Elton also played songs, including Tiny Dancer, Rocketman, and Your Song.
The crowd during the concert, designed to honor what the White House dubbed “everyday heroes,” included nurses, teachers, emergency response personnel, and LGBTQ advocates.
The 75-year-old singer described the performance as the “icing on the cake” of his long career.
Additionally, he received a surprise when President Biden gave him the National Humanities Medal.
Sir Elton responded with tears, “I’m flabbergasted.” “I will treasure this.”
“I don’t know how to take a compliment very well,” he added.
“But it’s wonderful to be here amongst so many people who have helped my AIDS foundation and my heroes, the ones that work day to day on the front line.”
Between performances, Elton praised former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush for their efforts to combat AIDS. Laura Bush was present.
Since its founding in 1992, the singer’s organization has raised more than £400 million to help fight the virus worldwide.
A Washington, D.C., performance is scheduled for this Saturday as part of Elton’s farewell tour, which will take him throughout the country until mid-November.
At the end of the year, it travels to Australia and New Zealand before arriving in Europe in March, where dates include nine days at London’s O2 Arena.