Sir Elton John cemented his place in entertainment history on Sunday night by winning an Emmy Award, completing his EGOT grand slam. Although John could not attend due to recovery from a recent surgery, the award capped off an incredible career across music, film, and theater.
Elton John Wins Emmy for Farewell Concert Special
Elton John and the team behind his “Farewell from Dodger Stadium” global livestream concert special took home the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) at the 2023 ceremony on Sunday night. (Source 1) (Source 2)
This win makes Elton John the latest EGOT winner, meaning he has now won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award over his decorated career. John now joins an elite group of only 19 EGOT achievers. (Source 3)
Due to recovery from a recent hip surgery, John could not attend the ceremony. However, he still delivered heartfelt remarks virtually upon his win:
“I’m so thrilled to receive this prestigious Emmy and to be in such distinguished company,” he said. “I’m so blessed at 75 to still love what I do so much and still be able to perform at the peak of my capacities.” (Source 4)
The Emmy win caps off a banner year for John. His hit biopic “Rocketman” and global farewell tour have thrust him back into the spotlight as fans celebrate his decades of iconic music.
Concert Special Captures Farewell Tour Finale
“Farewell from Dodger Stadium” captured John’s final North American tour stop last November. His three-hour, career-spanning show at the Los Angeles stadium was livestreamed globally in partnership with Disney+. (Source 5)
The concert special took home Emmys for directing, lighting design, and technical direction in addition to the top variety special prize. The visual feast featured colorful and eclectic costumes, balloons and confetti, and duets with iconic guests like Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee, and Brandi Carlile. (Source 6)
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Outstanding Variety Special (Live) | “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium” |
| Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special | David Furnish, Lizzie Price |
| Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special | LeRoy Bennett, Cory FitzGerald |
| Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Special | David Bishop, Desiree Cotto, Bill Sheppell, Marc Bloomgarden, Patrick Gleason, Luke Goodson, Kasper Havelund, Dave Levisohn, Mike Long, Steve Martynuk, Brian Phraner, John Pritchett, Cayce Scarborough, Harry Degoma |
The concert special took years of planning by John’s husband and producer, David Furnish. Furnish said the massive production aimed to have viewers “experience the excellence you’d have if sitting in the best seat at Dodger Stadium.” (Source 7)
John Joins Exclusive EGOT Club
By winning competitive Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards over his career, Elton John has joined the most elite club in entertainment as an EGOT winner. Only 19 people in history have achieved this feat across competitive categories. (Source 8)
The EGOT club includes legends like Audrey Hepburn, Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Legend, and Whoopi Goldberg. John is the first new member since Alan Menken achieved the milestone in 2020. (Source 9)
Upon hearing of John’s win, fellow EGOT achiever John Legend tweeted his congratulations:
John’s lifetime of awards achievements across entertainment genres is unmatched:
- Grammys: Five awards from nine nominations total. First win was Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “That’s What Friends Are For” in 1987 with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder
- Oscars: Won Best Original Song in 1995 for “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” from The Lion King film
- Tonys: Won Best Original Musical Score for Aida and Billy Elliot the Musical
- Emmy: Won Outstanding Variety Special (Live) in 2023 for “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium”
Farewell Tour Concludes in 2023
Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” global tour is completing its multi-year run in 2023. Originally slated to end in 2021 after over 300 shows across five continents, the tour was postponed twice due to COVID-19 and John’s hip injury recovery. (Source 10)
The tour began in September 2018 and is now completing its final European leg. The tour has featured John’s most iconic hits like “Tiny Dancer” and “Rocket Man” as well as rotating guest stars at each stop. Set and production designer Mark Fisher crafted larger-than-life sets and visuals to create an immersive experience for fans around the world.
By the time the last show concludes at Sweden’s Tele2 Arena this July, the Farewell Tour will have played over 350 shows since its launch. Pollstar ranks the tour among the Top 10 Highest Grossing Tours of All Time.
What’s Next for Elton John?
Even as Elton John’s performing career winds down, his creative pursuits show no signs of slowing. He continues working on film projects and AIDS activism in addition to parenting his two young sons with David Furnish.
John remains an Executive Producer on the hit biopic musical “Rocketman” and animated film “Gnomeo and Juliet.” He is also composing new music for Broadway adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada.” (Source 11)
The Elton John AIDS Foundation, which he founded in 1992, has raised over $525 million to combat the disease internationally through advocacy and education. (Source 12)
While John plans to stop touring, he insists he will keep performing and hints at potential residency shows in the future. After recovering from hip surgery, his creative output shows no signs of slowing even as he crosses 75 years old. And with an EGOT now under his belt, Elton John has cemented his place as a true entertainment legend.
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