At Elton John’s 33rd annual AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party, he shared the stage with rising pop star (and his good friend) Chappell Roan. Roan’s 45-minute set at the event included several of her biggest hits, one of which John performed alongside her: “Pink Pony Club.”
After placing a pink cowboy hat on John’s head, she said, “I’m so grateful that you would have me here, and it’s such an important, important, important, important…” There, Roan trailed off, seemingly fighting tears and wiping her eyes.
“You’re the best, baby. I love you so much,” John said. “Thank you for doing this.”
“You have sacrificed so much for the queer community, and you made it so I could be the artist I can be,” Roan replied. “So thank you so much, and thank you for supporting the AIDS Foundation.” With that, the two launched into the number.
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It wasn’t their only duet of the night: the two also sang John’s song “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” which he famously duetted with the late George Michael, another queer pop icon, back in the ‘90s. John shared a clip of his and Roan’s rendition to Instagram, expressing his love for her (and for the event) in the caption.
“Sharing this moment together at #EJAFOscars was nothing short of magical 💖,” he wrote. “For one night, we transformed West Hollywood Park into our own Pink Pony Club – a space filled with love and community, where everyone can be unapologetically themselves ✨”
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“Better Phone Roan”
Roan also included an Elton John cover in her solo set: “Your Song.” Before singing what she considers “one of [her] favorite songs of all time,” she dedicated the performance to her parents in the crowd.
“I think it’s like, I don’t know, maybe the best song of all time,” Roan said. “I dedicate it to my parents because they introduced me to Elton John, so I would not even be here were it not for them, and obviously, Elton, this is your song.”
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