Elton John’s final tour revisits LA glory with Lipa, Carlile
Elton John says Los Angeles has been a magical place for him. That’s why he’s ending the North American leg of his farewell concert tour at the city’s Dodger Stadium. (Nov.15)
AP
To many, Elton John is the GOAT.
And now, he’s an EGOT winner as well.
On Monday night, the legendary musician added an Emmy Award to his stash of Grammys, Oscars and a Tony, winning outstanding variety special for “Elton John: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.”
The singer was not in attendance Monday night due to a “knee op,” though “he’s absolutely fine,” said Ben Winston, one of the producers of the special.
“We knew this show was going to be historic because it was going to be Elton’s last ever show in North America on tour,” Winston said. “We didn’t know this was going to be historic because it was going to win a man who has created the soundtrack to all of our lives, who has done so much great for society, who is all of our heroes — we didn’t know it was going to win him an EGOT.”
John’s husband David Furnish shared how the newly minted EGOT-er was notified of the win. “We FaceTimed him. We woke him up in the middle of the night. He’s back in the U.K.; he’s had his left knee replaced,” Furnish said backstage at the Emmys. “He screamed ‘Yes!’ was really happy, incredibly honored.”
John later acknowledged the honor in a statement.
“I am incredibly humbled to be joining the unbelievably talented group of EGOT winners tonight. The journey to this moment has been filled with passion, dedication, and the unwavering support of my fans all around the world,” he said, “Tonight is a testament to the power of the arts and the joy that it brings to all our lives. Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my career, I am incredibly grateful.”
See the photos: Elton John marks ’52 years of pure joy’ with final tour performance
Who has won an EGOT?
With his EGOT stature, John joins a diverse list of actors and some other musicians as well. Mel Brooks, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson, John’s “Aida” co-composer Tim Rice, Rita Moreno, Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Legend and Viola Davis are among those who have achieved the rarified status.
Why did Elton John play his final concert at Dodger Stadium?
The concert, which aired live on Disney+ on Nov. 20, 2022, captured John saying his final goodbye to touring at the last North American date of his years-long Farewell Yellow Brick Road journey.
The Los Angeles show was one of 330 played since 2018 (the tour was postponed by the pandemic for much of 2020 and all of 2021) and according to Billboard, grossed more than $800 million.
Dodger Stadium served as an apt backdrop for John, who played a pair of career-defining concerts at the venue in 1975.
During his 2022 valediction, John was joined by a few guests, including Brandi Carlile, who handled the George Michael part of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me;” Dua Lipa, who helped return John to the charts in 2021 with “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” and John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” duet partner Kiki Dee for their frothy 1976 hit.
A cadre of Hollywood names and music royalty dotted the sold-out concert as well, including Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Angela Bassett, John Stamos, Jude Law and Neil Patrick Harris.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, David Oliver
Laura Davis is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Broadway, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
