WASHINGTON (AP) God bless you, lets have some music, said Elton John.
With that, the White House South Lawn was transformed into a musical lovefest Friday night as John played a farewell gig to honor everyday heroes like teachers, nurses and AIDS activists. But as it turns out, the event was also to honor the 75-year-old British songwriter President Joe Biden surprised him with the National Humanities Medal for being a tidal wave who helped people rise up for justice.
John seemed almost overcome by the accolades, telling the audience of 2,000 people: I dont know what to say. ... I dont know how to take a compliment very well but its wonderful to be here amongst so many people who have helped my AIDS foundation and my heroes, that ones that work day to day on the front line.
Biden Surprises Elton John With National Humanities Medal .. tearing up, Elton John said he was flabbergasted and humbled. pic.twitter.com/EuEq9HMj9N
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Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) September 24, 2022
He said hed played some beautiful venues before, but the stage in front of the White House, beneath a massive open-air tent on a perfect autumn night, was probably the icing on the cake.
He kicked off the show with Your Song, his first big international hit.
The intimate guest list included teachers, nurses, frontline workers and LGBTQ advocates, plus former first lady Laura Bush, civil rights advocate Ruby Bridges, education activist Malala Yousafzai and Jeanne White-Ginder, an AIDS activist and mother of Ryan White, who died from AIDS-related complications in 1990.
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Biden and first lady Jill Biden talked about the British singers 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.
The night, in fact, was called A Night When Hope and History Rhyme, a reference to the poem Biden quoted by Irelands Heaney.
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It was an honour to perform @whitehouse and be presented by President @JoeBiden with the National Humanities Medal for my contribution to music and the work through @EJAF to end AIDS!
Weve reached over 100m people with HIV and we couldn't have done it without our supporters pic.twitter.com/YiZM8eUQme
It was an honour to perform @whitehouse and be presented by President @JoeBiden with the National Humanities Medal for my contribution to music and the work through @EJAF to end AIDS!
Elton John (@eltonofficial) September 24, 2022
Weve reached over 100m people with HIV and we couldn't have done it without our supporters pic.twitter.com/YiZM8eUQme
Sir Elton he was knighted in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II has sold over 300 million records worldwide, played over 4,000 shows in 80 countries and recorded one of the best-selling singles of all time, his 1997 reworking of Candle In The Wind to eulogize Princess Diana, which sold 33 million copies.
John punctuated the hits Friday with emotional tidbits of his history, including a shoutout to Laura Bush and former president George W. Bush for his administrations emergency plan for AIDS relief, and a story of how a dying Ryan White and his mother pushed him into advocacy in the first place, and helped him get sober.
I wouldnt be here talking tonight, he said. They saved my life.
He then dedicated Dont Let The Sun Go Down On Me to Ryan.
Elton John - Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (LIVE at White House) pic.twitter.com/NIH3R6k6fJ
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Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) September 24, 2022
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Despite the presence of plenty of lawmakers, the political speak was kept to a minimum, except for when John said, I just wish America would be more bipartisan on everything.
It was his first White House gig since he performed with Stevie Wonder at a state dinner in 1998 honoring British Prime Minister Tony Blair. John is on a farewell tour that began in July after performing for more than 50 years.
Elton John sings \"I'm Still Standing\" at the White House pic.twitter.com/Drk6fSj2VP
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john","slug":"elton-john","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/elton-john","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/elton-john","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/elton-john"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/elton-john"},{"name":"National Humanities Medal","slug":"national-humanities-medal","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/national-humanities-medal","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/national-humanities-medal","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/national-humanities-medal"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/national-humanities-medal"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">Elton John sings "I'm Still Standing" at the White House pic.twitter.com/Drk6fSj2VP
Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) September 24, 2022
The show came together after A+E Networks and the History Channel asked the White House and John if theyd be up for a collaboration honoring everyday history-makers as well as John himself.
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Its not clear whether the show will be broadcast. John has worked with A+E in the past on his global HIV/AIDS charity, the Elton John Foundation, which has raised more than $525 million to combat the virus around the world.
John is sticking around to play a sold-out show at Nationals Park Saturday.
The president and first lady are big fans. Biden wrote in a 2017 memoir about singing Crocodile Rock to his two young boys as he drove them to school, and again later to son Beau before he died of cancer at age 46.
I started singing the lyrics to Beau, quietly, so just the two of us could hear it, Biden wrote. Beau didnt open his eyes, but I could see through my own tears that he was smiling.
John played the song Friday, saying someone told him Biden used to sing it to his little boys. I cant imagine him singin it, John quipped before suggesting the president come up on stage. He did not. But the whole crowd did do the La-La-Las from their seats.
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Surprise for Elton John as President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden present him with the National Humanities Medal citing his artistic work and philanthropy. @eltonofficial said he would \"treasure\" the honor. pic.twitter.com/6LNBRV29dd
Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) September 24, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Kelly O'Donnell","author_url":"https://twitter.com/KellyO","cache_age":86400,"description":"Surprise for Elton John as President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden present him with the National Humanities Medal citing his artistic work and philanthropy. @eltonofficial said he would \"treasure\" the honor. pic.twitter.com/6LNBRV29dd Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) September 24, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1512,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FdYlMzXWIAgQVK7.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1171,"title":"Kelly O'Donnell on 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john","slug":"elton-john","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/elton-john","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/elton-john","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/elton-john"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/elton-john"},{"name":"National Humanities Medal","slug":"national-humanities-medal","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/national-humanities-medal","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/national-humanities-medal","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/national-humanities-medal"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/national-humanities-medal"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">Surprise for Elton John as President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden present him with the National Humanities Medal citing his artistic work and philanthropy. @eltonofficial said he would "treasure" the honor. pic.twitter.com/6LNBRV29dd
Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) September 24, 2022
Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump , was also a fan of John. He tried to get John to perform at his 2017 inauguration but John declined, saying he didnt think it was appropriate for a Brit to play at the swearing-in of an American president.
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The White House insisted Fridays show wasnt an effort to troll Trump, who has praised John in his books and has often featured Johns music including Rocket Man and Tiny Dancer in his pre-rally playlists over the years. Trump nicknamed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rocket man for his record of test-firing missiles.
John played both Friday, to thunderous applause.
Rocket Man, Sir Elton John, White House, September 23, 2022. pic.twitter.com/1TAgboJYyt
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Aurelia End (@AureliaEndAFP) September 24, 2022
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Elton John sings \"Tiny Dancer\" at the White House. pic.twitter.com/vubtvpgzNd
CSPAN (@cspan) September 24, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"CSPAN","author_url":"https://twitter.com/cspan","cache_age":86400,"description":"Elton John sings \"Tiny Dancer\" at the White House. pic.twitter.com/vubtvpgzNd CSPAN (@cspan) September 24, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1573479657478946816/pu/img/Tw61l1sMaGTmHEcx.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"CSPAN on 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CSPAN (@cspan) September 24, 2022
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