“Anora” took home five statues on Oscar night, but the unofficial award for best one-off collaboration surely would have gone to a live performance from Elton John and Chappell Roan.
The artists came together Sunday at John’s 33rd Annual AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at West Hollywood Park. The event raised over $8.6 million to help end AIDS. Attendees included Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Thee Stallion, Brandi Carlile, Camila Cabello, Heidi Klum, Jean Smart, Neil Patrick Harris, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Julia Fox, Maria Bakalova, Nikki Glaser, Walton Goggins and Zooey Deschanel.
Together, Roan and John performed duet renditions of the latter’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and the former’s 2024 hit “Pink Pony Club.” John, who has previously won two Best Original Song Oscars for his “Lion King” ballad “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Rocketman” anthem “I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” posted a clip Monday on Instagram of his and Roan’s performance of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”
“Sharing this moment together at #EJAFOscars was nothing short of magical,” John captioned his Instagram post. “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.”
Roan also performed a cover of John’s beloved 1970 classic “Your Song” and took a moment onstage to pay tribute to all the work he’s done as a spokesperson and advocate for queer people everywhere. “You have sacrificed so much for the queer community and made it so I can be the artist I can be,” Roan told him Sunday night.
John co-hosted the event alongside Smart, Ralph, Harris, David Burtka and Elton John AIDS Foundation Chair David Furnish.
“What an unforgettable night! Chappell Roan lit up the stage,” Furnish said in a statement. “We want to thank everyone who bought a ticket, bid in the auction, or made a donation—you made this night a true success. Because of your generosity, we were able to celebrate with purpose, helping communities around the world access life-saving HIV prevention, treatment, and mental health support.”
“I can’t believe this is the 33rd year of hosting our annual Academy Awards Viewing Party. Nothing means more to me than being surrounded by friends, family, and supporters, for a cause so close to my heart,” John commented.
“At a time when HIV resources are being cut, our work has never been more urgent. Thousands are being denied life-saving care, and decades of hard-fought progress are at risk,” Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, added. “But tonight proved what’s possible when we unite—people coming together to fight for a future where lives are saved, stigma is shattered, and no one is left behind.”
