John has a rich history of utilizing his musical performances to draw attention to and pay homage to significant global events. In 1986, he collaborated with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder on a cover of “That’s What Friends Are For,” originally released by Rod Stewart. The purpose behind the song was to raise funds for the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
John joined forces with Kesha, the Killers, Hozier, and various other artists in April 2020 for the “One World: Together At Home” TV special.
In a 2022 concert at the Rogers Centre in Canada, John delivered a heartfelt tribute to Queen Elizabeth through his rendition of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” a song featured on his 1974 album “Caribou.” This particular tune holds sentimental value as John frequently performed it with singer George Michael, notably during the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in 1985.
Expressing his condolences, John took to Twitter, stating, “I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing. She was an inspiring presence to be around and led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency, and a genuine caring warmth.”
It’s evident that the news of Queen Elizabeth’s passing profoundly affected John, prompting him to convey his grief through the heartfelt medium of song
Elton John sings “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” after paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in Toronto pic.twitter.com/FT1oX6lP5E
— Patrick Searle (@patsearle) September 9, 2022