'Let's have some music' | Elton John rocks the White House on farewell tour
The Hindu
U.S. President Joe Biden participated as Elton John transformed the White House South Lawn into a musical lovefest Friday night as part of his farewell tour that began in June
“God bless you, let’s 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 don’t know what to say.... I don’t know how to take a compliment very well but it’s 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.”
He said he'd 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.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden talked about the British singer's 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.