Elton John and Bernie Taupin receive Gershwin Prize at star-studded night in DC

Sign as much as Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly publication Now Hear This for the within monitor on all issues music

Get our Now Hear This electronic mail free of charge

Glitz and glamour have been in no quick provide as Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin accepted the 2024 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Washington DC on Wednesday night.

The prestigious prize is taken into account to be one of many highest honours for well-liked musicians, awarded for lifetime contributions to the style. Prior honorees embrace Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon and Garth Brooks, amongst others.

The recognition is handed down by the US Library of Congress and is known as after the Gershwin brothers, two influential contributors to the American songbook.

Sir Elton and Mr Taupin are liable for greater than 25 platinum data, 35 gold data and 30 US Top 40 hits. The duo wrote classics collectively for at least 50 years; although, neither of them have been in the identical room throughout the writing course of. Mr Taupin wrote the lyrics and Sir Elton put them to music.

The sequin-studded viewers at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall included UK Ambassador to the US Karen Pierce, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, in addition to a number of US lawmakers who offered the duo with the award.

More notable even than the attendees have been the performers, which included Mitchell, Brandi Carlile, Charlie Puth, Marren Morris, Jacob Lusk, Garth Brooks, Annie Lennox, Metallica and host Billy Porter.

Metallica opened the present, which is scheduled to air 8 April on PBS, with a mashup of  “Funeral For a Friend” and “Love Lies Bleeding”.

Carlile moved the viewers along with her model of “Skyline Pigeon” throughout part of the ceremony centered on the duo’s contribution towards the battle towards the AIDS epidemic.

Meanwhile, Mitchell delighted with a canopy of Sir Elton’s mega-hit “I’m Still Standing”, her strolling cane in hand. Other covers of “I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” have been sung by Ms Morris and Mr Puth.

Enjoy limitless entry to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up

Enjoy limitless entry to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up

Yet, probably the most electrical efficiency of the night belonged to Mr Lusk, who obtained a standing ovation for his theatrical rendition of “Bennie And The Jets”. Sir Elton took the stage with Mr Lusk at Glastonbury in 2023 and specifically requested he sing at the occasion.

Once the awards have been offered by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, Sir Elton handled the viewers to anthems like “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” and “Your Song” with Taupin at his aspect leaning towards the piano as he sang the ultimate quantity.

Given the venue, politics was not a subject simply prevented. A few stars took the chance to talk up about causes they care about. Ms Lennox repeated her requires a ceasefire in Gaza whereas chatting with The Independent on the pink carpet. She later carried out “The Border Song” on stage.

Ms Morris, who lives in Nashville, additionally took the time to get political, saying in no unsure phrases that she would welcome the victory of Democratic senate candidate Gloria Johnson. The incumbent Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn “f***ing sucks”, she posited.

While accepting the award, Sir Elton stated the occasion felt like an “acid trip” including that it was the primary time he’s sat in an viewers and watched his personal band carry out stay. He attributed a lot of his early musical curiosity to American artists.

“When I grew up as a little boy in suburban London, the only good music that I heard was American”, he stated, including his “world changed” the primary time he heard “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley.

“That’s all I wanted to do was play rock ‘n’ roll after hearing that,” he stated. “I’m so proud to be British and to be here in America to receive this award because all my heroes were American”.

Mr Taupin echoed his remarks. “Pretty much everything that I’ve written emanates from this country,” he stated. “Whether it’s the heartland, whether it’s the urban jungle, it’s all been a palette for everything I’ve written.”