Chappell Roan tops big weekend by singing ‘Pink Pony Club’ with Elton John at Oscars bash
Chappell Roan wasn’t at the Oscars ceremony on Sunday, but we’ll just go ahead and proclaim that she won the weekend in a big way.
When you get to sing with Elton John — in front of your parents, no less — well, you win.
Roan performed Sunday at the 33rd annual Elton John Aids Foundation Oscars viewing party under a big tent at West Hollywood Park. Co-hosts for the black-tie affair, which raised nearly $9 million for the fight against AIDS, included John, Jean Smart, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Neil Patrick Harris.
Accompanied by her band, the “Hot to Go” star sang for an hour, Roan’s first full-length performance since ending her tour five months ago, Variety reported.
Early in the set she sang John’s wistful “Your Song” and let the audience know that there were two special people from Missouri there.
“I’m gonna sing a song that is one of my favorite songs of all time, and I think it’s maybe the best song,” period, she said. “I dedicate it to my parents — they’re here tonight. Mom and Dad, wave.”
Dwight and Kara Amstutz waved to the crowd.
“I dedicate this song to them because they introduced me to Elton John. This goes out to them, and obviously, Elton, this is yours,” Roan said.
She later performed a duet with John on “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” John posted a clip of the performance on his Instagram, where he wrote that it “was nothing short of magical.”
She ended the set by putting a pink, fringed and bedazzled cowboy hat on John’s head and singing “Pink Pony Club” with him. At one point the hat bounced off his head.
She noted how close the party was to The Abbey, the gay nightclub that inspired “Pink Pony Club.”
“You have sacrificed so much for the queer community,” she told John. “And you made it so I could be the artist I can be, so I thank you so much.”
Roan began the weekend by winning two prestigious BRIT Awards on Saturday, which she accepted with long-distance speeches. The awards celebrate the best artists and music from the United Kingdom and around the world. The award ceremony is one of the biggest music awards nights in the UK.
Roan won both International Song of the Year (for “Good Luck, Babe!”) and International Artist of the Year.
“Chappell Roan was born through experiencing queer joy,” she said in accepting Artist of the Year. “It’s so special I had to write an entire album about it.
“I dedicate this to trans artists, to drag queens, to fashion students, sex workers and Sinéad O’Connor. Because of all those people, they have laid the groundwork for me to be here today. I did not give up because of them and I will continue going because of them.”
This story was originally published March 3, 2025 at 11:50 AM.
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