At a star-studded Oscars 2021 viewing party, Elton John performs a duet with Dua Lipa.
Elton John refused to let a pandemic disrupt his annual Oscars viewing party.
Sunday night, the 74-year-old British crooner shifted gears and held a virtual soiree that raised $3 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The first-ever virtual gala — hosted by John, his partner, David Furnish, and friend Neil Patrick Harris — included performances by Dua Lipa and the “Crocodile Rock” singer, as well as appearances by Lady Gaga, Cynthia Erivo, and the cast of “It’s a Sin.”
Lipa, 25, performed her chart-topping singles “Levitating,” “Pretty Please,” “Hallucinate,” and “Don’t Start Now,” as well as a duet with John on “Bennie and the Jets” and “Love Again.”
“It was an honor to perform alongside the stunning Dua Lipa and welcome supporters from all over the world to our Party,” John said in a statement. “I’m indebted to Neil for hosting, to all who came, and to all my friends who participated in order for us to continue this iconic event and collect critical funds to end the AIDS epidemic.”
It is unknown how the stars at John’s party responded when Anthony Hopkins won the Best Actor award rather than the late Chadwick Boseman, who was heavily favored to win.
Hopkins, who at the age of 83 is the award’s oldest recipient, paid tribute to the star of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” in an acceptance speech that aired following the Oscars.
“Howdy, good morning. Here I am in my native Wales — and at the age of 83, I had not anticipated receiving this award,” Hopkins explained. “I really did not. I am indebted to the Academy and wish to express my gratitude.”
“And I want to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who left us way too soon,” he said.
Boseman died in August at the age of 43 after a secret battle with cancer.
