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Sir Elton John became emotional on Friday evening as he was presented with a National Humanities Medal at the White House in Washington.
The musician, 75, put on a show-stopping performance after being welcomed to the stage by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill.
At the end of the show, Biden surprised Elton with the Medal for his songbook and his long legacy of advocacy, which left Elton tearing up.
Happy tears: Sir Elton John became emotional on Friday evening as he was presented with a National Humanities Medal at the White House in Washington
The Rocketman played on an elaborate stage set up specifically for him and kicked off the show with Your Song, his first big international hit.
Elton cut a dapper figure in a black suit, teamed with a white shirt and his trademark flashy red glasses.
Before the performance, Elton said he’d played in some beautiful venues, but the stage in front of the White House was ‘probably the icing on the cake’.
The crowd included some 2,000 fans including teachers, front-line workers, nurses, mental health advocates, students and LGBTQ+ advocates.
Performance: The Rocketman played on an elaborate stage set up specifically for him and kicked off the show with Your Song, his first big international hit
Special moment: The musician, 75, put on a show-stopping performance after being welcomed to the stage by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill
Incredible: Before the performance, Elton said he’d played in some beautiful venues, but the stage in front of the White House was ‘probably the icing on the cake’
An honour: Biden and first lady Jill welcomed the singer, talking about his activism, the power of his music and his all-around goodness
Biden and first lady Jill welcomed the singer, talking about his activism, the power of his music and his all-around goodness. The event was dreamed up and paid for by A+E and the History Channel.
‘Seamus Heaney once wrote, and I quote, ‘Once in a lifetime, the longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme,’ Biden said.
‘Throughout his incredible career, Sir Elton John has been that tidal wave, a tidal wave to help people rise up and make hope and history rhyme.’
Congratulations! At the end of the show Biden surprised John with the National Humanities Medal for his songbook and his long legacy of advocacy
Happy: Tearing up, Elton said he was ‘flabbergasted and humbled’ with the medal
Looking good: Elton cut a dapper figure in a black suit, teamed with a white shirt and his trademark flashy red glasses
At the end of the show, Biden surprised Elton with the National Humanities Medal for his songbook and his long legacy of advocacy.
Tearing up, Elton said he was ‘flabbergasted and humbled’.
It was Elton’s first White House gig since he performed with Stevie Wonder at a state dinner in 1998 honouring British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Performance: The crowd included some 2,000 fans including teachers, front-line workers, nurses, mental health advocates, students and LGBTQ+ advocates
Heartwarming: Sir Elton and first lady Jill embraced each other after the emotional moment
Emotional: Elton appeared overwhelmed after the sensational performance
Elton, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, is on a farewell tour after performing for more than 50 years.
After the September 2018 kick-off to the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which is intended to be Elton’s final trek around the world, the band played consistently for about a year-and-a-half.
But then, when COVID-19 was deemed a pandemic in March 2020, the tour came to screeching halt, which happened right after his show in Sydney, Australia, on March 7 of that year.
Between the pandemic and Elton’s recurring health problems, including surgery on his hip due to a fall ‘on a hard surface’, the tour ended up being sidelined until January 19, 2020, when he hit the stage at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Overjoyed: Elton appeared thrilled as he shared a hug with first lady Jill Biden
Throwback: It was Elton’s first White House gig since he performed with Stevie Wonder at a state dinner in 1998 honoring British Prime Minister Tony Blair
After restarting in the Big Easy, the tour made its way around parts of the US until April 28 in Miami.
From there, John and his band took a three-week hiatus before picking back up in Europe with a show in Fornebu, Norway, on May 21.
The European leg continued on through July 4 in Watford, England, and then Elton took an eleven-day break before resuming in the US with Friday’s show in Philadelphia.
The tour will make its final stop in the United States on November 20 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
The five-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is slated to formally wrap up in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 8, 2023.
The end: Elton, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, is on a farewell tour after performing for more than 50 years
Not long left: The five-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is slated to formally wrap up in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 8, 2023
