WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted Elton John to play on Friday night at the White House’s South Lawn during “A Night When Hope and History Rhyme,” an event funded by A&E Networks and The History Channel.
“Seamus Heaney once wrote, and I quote, ‘Once in a lifetime, the longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme.’ Throughout his incredible career, Sir Elton John has been that tidal wave, a tidal wave to help people rise up and make hope and history rhyme,” Biden said.
The 75-year-old star, who has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for research to help HIV and AIDS patients and advocated for the rights of the LGBTQ+ worldwide, is traveling for his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour.
John played “Your Song” for about 2,000 guests, including former first lady Laura Bush, British Ambassador to the U.S. Karen Elizabeth Pierce, Ruby Bridges, Jeanne White-Ginder, Malala Yousafzai, and a long list of public servants, first responders, and LGBTQ+ advocates.
When John was done with his performance, Biden awarded him the National Humanities Medal. The late Queen Elizabeth II knighted him, Sir Elton John, in 1998.
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