Sir Elton John has been awarded the National Humanities Medal by US President Joe Biden. The award took place at the White House in Washington, DC, where John was honoured alongside his husband, David Furnish, for their work in fighting the AIDS epidemic.
During the ceremony, which took place on the White House's South Lawn, John played a six-song set that included Your Song, Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time), Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me, Crocodile Rock and I'm Still Standing.
"It's my great honour – and I mean sincerely – to present the National Humanities Medal to Sir Elton John," said Biden. "Throughout his career Elton found his voice to help others and help them find their voice. With his hope he made history rhyme for countless people in our nation that's what tonight is all about.
"Elton often talked about how American music changed his life, and how the different genres and sounds influenced his own music and Imagination. It's clear Elton John's music has changed our lives. To David and the boys, thank you for sharing your husband and dad with us.
"On behalf of the American people, thank you – and I sincerely mean this – thank you for moving the soul of our nation."
"I’m honoured to receive the National Humanities Medal from President Biden and the First Lady during such a spectacular event at the White House,” says Sir Elton. “It’s been emotional for me to be recognised for the achievements of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Since I founded the Foundation at my kitchen table in Atlanta 30 years ago, I made a commitment not to leave anyone behind and will continue on this mission.
"We are striving for a future where people of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, and gender identities have the opportunity to live free from AIDS, stigma, injustice and maltreatment – and I’m so grateful recognition likes this brings us a step closer to making that a reality."
Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour is currently in The US, with the next show taking place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX, on Friday. His final ever show on American soil, scheduled for Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on November 20, and will be livestreamed via Disney+. Full dates below.
Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour dates
Sep 30: Arlington Globe Life Field, TX, USA
Oct 02: Nashville Nissan Stadium, TN, USA
Oct 08: Santa Clara Levi’s® Stadium, CA, USA
Oct 08: Santa Clara Levi’s® Stadium, CA, USA
Oct 16: Tacoma Dome, WA, USA
Oct 17: Tacoma Dome, WA, USA
Oct 21: Vancouver BC Place, BC, Canada
Oct 22: Vancouver BC Place, BC, Canada
Oct 29: San Antonio Alamodome, TX, USA
Nov 01: Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium, NV, USA
Nov 04: Houston Minute Maid Park, TX, USA
Nov 09: San Diego Petco Park, CA, USA
Nov 11: Phoenix Chase Field, AZ, USA
Nov 12: Phoenix Chase Field, AZ, USA
Nov 17: Los Angeles Dodger Stadium, CA, USA
Nov 19: Los Angeles Dodger Stadium, CA, USA
Nov 20: Los Angeles Dodger Stadium, CA, USA
Jan 10: Newcastle McDonald Jones Stadium, NSW, Australia
Jan 13: Melbourne AAMI Park, VIC, Australia
Jan 18: Sydney Allianz Stadium, NSW, Australia
Jan 21: Brisbane Suncorp Stadium, QLD, Austtalia
Jan 24: Christchurch Orangetheory Stadium, New Zealand
Jan 27: Auckland Mt Smart Stadium, New Zealand
Jan 28: Auckland Mt Smart Stadium, New Zealand
Mar 28: Dublin 3Arena, Ireland
Mar 29: Dublin 3Arena, Ireland
Mar 31: Belfast SSE Arena, UK
Apr 02: London The O2, UK
Apr 04: London The O2, UK
Apr 05: London The O2, UK
Apr 08: London The O2, UK
Apr 09: London The O2, UK
Apr 12: London The O2, UK
Apr 13: London The O2, UK
Apr 16: London The O2, UK
Apr 17: London The O2, UK
Apr 19: Birmingham Resorts World Arena, UK
Apr 22: Liverpool M&S Bank Arena, UK
Apr 23: Liverpool M&S Bank Arena, UK
Apr 27: Munich Olympiahalle, Germany
May 02: Hamburg Barclaycard Arena, Germany
May 04: Hamburg Barclaycard Arena, Germany
May 05: Hamburg Barclaycard Arena, Germany
May 08: Berlin Mercedes Benz Arena, Germany
May 10: Berlin Mercedes Benz Arena, Germany
May 11: Berlin Mercedes Benz Arena, Germany
May 13: Mannheim SAP Arena, Germany
May 16: Cologne Lanxess Arena, Germany
May 18: Cologne Lanxess Arena, Germany
May 19: Cologne Lanxess Arena, Germany
May 22: Barcelona Palau Sant Jordi, Spain
May 23: Barcelona Palau Sant Jordi, Spain
May 27: Antwerp Sportpaleis, Belgium
May 28: Antwerp Sportpaleis, Belgium
May 31: Manchester Arena, UK
Jun 02: Manchester Arena, UK
Jun 03: Manchester Arena, UK
Jun 06: Leeds First Direct Arena, UK
Jun 10: Birmingham Utilita Arena, UK
Jun 11: Birmingham Utilita Arena, UK
Jun 13: Aberdeen P&J Live, UK
Jun 15: Aberdeen P&J Live, UK
Jun 17: Glasgow The SSE Hydro, UK
Jun 18: Glasgow The SSE Hydro, UK
Jun 25: Paris Accor Arena, France
Jun 27: Paris Accor Arena, France
Jun 28: Paris Accor Arena, France
Jul 01: Zurich Hallenstadion, Switzerland
Jul 02: Zurich Hallenstadion, Switzerland
Jul 05: Copenhagen Royal Arena, Denmark
Jul 07: Stockholm Tele2 Arena, Sweden
Jul 08: Stockholm Tele2 Arena, Sweden
