Chappell Roan made Elton John an honorary member of the “Pink Pony Club” Sunday night, placing a fringe-laden, pink cowboy hat upon his head as she dueted with the legend on her signature song as well as one of his own classics at his annual Oscar night party in West Hollywood.
Roan’s hour-long set with her all-female band marked the best new artist Grammy winner’s first full-length performance since she closed out her first major headlining tour at Austin City Limits five months ago. Although the set included the most popular staples of Roan’s nascent catalog, it was clear early on that she’d be celebrating the occasion with some value-added Elton content — starting with an earnest solo rendition of his classic “Your Song.” Later, she called John himself up from his table to the stage, where they traded vocals as he played piano on “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” before the duo rounded the night out with a version of “Pink Pony Club” that had Elton enthusiastically joining in on backing vocals.
Chappell Roan bestows Elton John with a pink cowboy hat during a performance of ‘Pink Pony Club’ at the Elton John AIDS Foundation benefit in West Hollywood.
Chris WIllman/Variety
“You have sacrificed so much for the queer community,” Roan told John, after bestowing on him the pink hat that would be his crown for the night’s finale. “And you made it so I could be the artist I can be, so I thank you so much,” she said, offering additional plaudits for his historical support of AIDS research and relief, the beneficiary of his Oscar event’s proceeds.
Any solemnity in that moment was cut short by the host commanding, “Let’s dance, baby!,” as the big tent set up in West Hollywood Park became an adjunct of the nearby Abbey.
Monday morning, the Elton John AIDS Foundation announced that Sunday’s viewing party — its 33rd — had raised $8.6 million in support of the mission to end AIDS.
John watched the earlier stretch of her performance from a table in the middle of the room, where he was joined by Brandi Carlile — both of them fresh from not winning a best original song Oscar over in the other Hollywood for “Never Too Late,” but neither appearing too broken up about it as they bobbed along to Roan.
As the sea of packed black-tie attendees parted for John to make his way to the stage upon being summoned, Roan pointed out what many in the crowd already knew — that they were all within virtual spitting distance of the gay nightspot that actually inspired “Pink Pony Club.” Roan talked of visiting the Abbey when she was 21, and immediately vowing to become a go-go dancer, “but instead I wrote a song about it.”
In singing “Your Song” toward the beginning of her set, Roan said, “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 noted. “I dedicate it to my parents – they’re here tonight. Mom and dad, wave,” she asked, as her folks gestured to the crowd from a spot against the platform at stage right. “I dedicate this song to them because they introduced me to Elton John. This goes out to them, and obviously, Elton, this is yours.”
Non-Elton highlights of the night included such Roan favorites as “Hot to Go!,” complete with the singer offering the usual instructions on how to spell out the title, even if some attendees might worry about how that would go with their wardrobe choices, as she acknowledged. For anyone “wearing a strapless little gown, if I tell you to raise your arms and a little nip slip happens… Good! Free the nipple… You can do it!”
Another song, “My Kink Is Karma,” was dedicated to what she described as the “future ex-husbands” in the audience, whose fates she said were set in motion from the moment “I walked out on stage and your wife said, ‘Wait a second, maybe I like girls.’”
Roan began her performance wearing an ornate vest and gloves, which lasted exactly one song in a tent powered by body heat. Later,
Chappell Roan performs onstage during Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 33rd Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 02, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation)
Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation
John’s and Furnish’s annual gala Oscar night event benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Co-hosts or guest speakers including Jean Smart, Megan Thee Stallion, Neil Patrick Harris, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Zooey Deschanel, Sophia Bush, Ashlyn Harris and David Burtka offered messages during the Academy Awards’ commercial breaks about the work the foundation is doing and the added need to make a difference in the face of devastating public funding cuts currently taking place.
Each year, the viewing of the Oscars is followed by a set by one of John’s favorite artists. Four years ago, the performer was Carlile, who became John’s co-Oscar nominee in 2025.
Guests at the event included Hozier, Laufey, Donatella Versace, Lucy Dacus, Katie Gavin, Camila Cabello, Heidi Klum, Christina Hendricks, Elizabeth Hurley, Ava Max, Andrew Watt, Sophia Bush, Justin Tranter, Eric McCormack, Kathy Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Alyssa Milano, Jane Seymour, Julia Fox, Liv Hewson, Ozuna, Dylan Mulvaney, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Walton Goggins, Paris Jackson, Jaqueline Bisset, Jessica Gunning, Machine Gun Kelly and Lisa Ann Walter among many others.
Chappell Roan’s setlist at Elton John’s Oscar Viewing Party, Marh 2, 2025
Femininomenon
Naked in Manhattan
Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl
Your Song (Elton John cover)
Casual
Hot to Go!
Red Wine Supernova
Good Luck, Babe!
My Kink Is Karma
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (with Elton John)
Pink Pony Club (with Elton John)
Chappell Roan and Elton John perform at his AIDS Foundation benefit
Chris Willman/Variety
Elton John, Chappell Roan and David Furnish attend the press conference during Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 33rd Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 2, 2025 in West Hollywood, California.
Getty Images for Elton John AIDS
Brandi Carlile and Chappell Roan attend the press conference during Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 33rd Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 2, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation)
Getty Images for Elton John AIDS
