Elton John has achieved EGOT status by adding an Emmy Award to his impressive list of accolades.
The renowned British singer-pianist secured the Emmy for best variety special (live) on Monday night for “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium,” a three-hour concert documentary available on Disney+.
Expressing his gratitude, the 76-year-old artist mentioned feeling “incredibly humbled” to join the exclusive group of EGOT winners who have earned an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. John acknowledged the journey to this milestone, filled with passion, dedication, and the unwavering support of his global fanbase.
Elton John boasts five Grammy Awards, including the most recent one for “Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida” in 2001. His two Oscars were awarded for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King” in 1994 and “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocketman,” while his Tony was for the original score of “Aida.” With record-breaking sales, he holds the title of one of the top-selling solo artists and achieved the biggest-selling physical single of all time with “Candle in the Wind” in 1997.
Becoming the 19th person to attain EGOT status, Elton John follows Viola Davis, who achieved the feat last year. Other notable EGOT winners include Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson, and John Legend.
David Furnish, Elton John’s husband and a producer on the concert special, shared the artist’s joy at winning his first Emmy. Furnish mentioned that an “incredibly honored” John couldn’t attend the ceremony due to recent surgery, and they Facetimed him during the night. Furnish humorously remarked on John’s knee surgery, attributing it to the numerous pianos he has jumped off over the years.
The Emmy-winning concert was part of Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, concluding a three-night stint at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Originally scheduled for 300-plus dates starting in September 2018, the tour was temporarily halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2021. The final show, attended by over 50,000 fans, featured guest appearances from new stars like Dua Lipa and Brandi Carlile.
Elton John’s special triumphed over strong contenders, including the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show, ABC’s Oscars telecast, CBS’s Tony Award telecast, and Netflix’s “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage.” In his acknowledgment, John emphasized the power of the arts and expressed deep gratitude to everyone who has supported his illustrious career.
