Sir Elton John retired from touring last July, but the legendary singer returned to stand behind the piano in front of a star-studded audience at the annual Academy Awards presentation, benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The audience, which included Patricia Arquette, Donatella Versace, Sharon Stone, Zooey Deschanel, Brandi Carlile, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Tim Allen, Elizabeth Hurley, Alexis Bledel, Eric McCormack, Avril Lavigne, Heidi Klum and Melanie Lynskey, was delighted. A rousing rendition of “Are You Ready for Love”, aided by the night’s musical headliners, The Gabriels Trio.
“I’m from Compton, and I’m from L.A., so it feels like a full circle moment,” Gabriels member Jacob Lusk said. “And to do it to support an amazing event like this. (We have to) have fun, eat good food, drink a little and then help people.”
Gabriels, who has also performed Love and Hate in a Different Time and The Great Wind, is one of John’s favorite new works. The group caused a stir in 2022 when John joined them on stage at Glastonbury Festival.
The event raised a record $10.8 million, surpassing the previous high total set in 2022 by more than $1 million. For more than 30 years, the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Oscars Gala has been a highlight of Oscar night, raising more than $100 million since the first gathering on Maple Drive in 1993. The West Hollywood park now transforms every year to accommodate AIDS patients. The ceremony was hosted this time by Tiffany Haddish, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, along with John and his husband David Furnish, who heads the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
In collaboration with other philanthropists such as Versace, John and Furnish last year launched the Rocket Fund, which aims to accelerate funding for the foundation. The organization is working to eliminate AIDS by 2030.
“This (event) supports the Rocket Fund,” Furnish said. “Thanks to this fund, we can strengthen our fundraising efforts and our programmatic efforts and eliminate AIDS by 2030. If you think about where we started with this disease in the 1980s, when there was no hope and no cure — if you were diagnosed with AIDS, it was a judgment call.” By death. People now live full, happy lives taking one pill a day. We just have to get them tested and get them the treatment. So (this event) allows us to unlock that and make those things happen — all with the glitz and glamor of the Oscars. Everyone wins.” ”
A live auction has brought in millions for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, with an active bidding war resulting in a $500,000 sale of Maison’s Chopard earrings. The brand introduced a second pair, which sold for an additional $500,000 immediately.
A dazzling Yamaho piano signed by John sold for $360,000, and the artist no doubt helped him play some verses of “Your Song” for the crowd. Other items included one of John’s personal Rolex watches, photographs from John and Furnish’s personal collection, an early Andy Warhol illustration, a drawing sketch from Keith Haring, pinball machines painted with representations of John’s career and exclusive entry to last night’s Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
“I always enjoy coming here to spread awareness about the LGBTQ community in general — and just young people in general. We’re trying to fight AIDS, we’re trying to fight the stigma that surrounds it,” Michaela Jay Rodriguez said.
Smokey Robinson added that there is no better place to watch the awards ceremony than Elton John’s Oscars.
“Elton and David are personal friends of ours, they’re family,” Robinson said. “And we’re seeing more negativity in health and in attitudes… than ever before. They’re doing something, first and foremost, to try to fight AIDS, and they’re amazing people.”
Toni Braxton brought her son to the party, his first Oscars, and described John as a “big brother in the business.”
“All the money he brought in for people (who were being overlooked) — I love that about him,” Braxton said.
She also teased her upcoming Las Vegas residency with Cedric the Entertainer.
“We’ve put together something called ‘Love and Laughter,'” she said. “It’s like seven chapters… It’s like Sonny and Cher meets Donny and Marie meets Tony and Cedric.”
Jane Seymour attended the event ahead of the premiere of her new Netflix film Irish Wish, in which she co-stars with Lindsay Lohan.
“It’s great that we have the Oscars and the glitz and the stars and so on, but that’s because there’s been a tremendous need in that segment of society… It’s a tremendous need to support them and understand their needs and do it.” “What can be done to combat AIDS around the world?” Seymour said.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards party wasn’t the only night out on the town. Greta Gerwig and Billie Eilish danced the night away at a Vanity Fair party, while Rob Lowe hosted a celebrity-packed viewing party at Spago in Beverly Hills. Additionally, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce appeared at a private, cameraless party at Guy Oseary’s home in the Hollywood Hills, which was hosted by Madonna.