While the pandemic could have kept Elton John from hosting his yearly Oscars viewing party, it actually made the night's cause even more worthwhile. The British singer, 74, pivoted Sunday night and hosted a virtual soiree that raised $3 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Given how the COVID-19 health crisis has especially impacted the millions of people fighting AIDS and HIV around the world, the Elton John AIDS Foundation forged ahead with the fundraiser, pivoting to a livestreamed pre-party followed by commercial-break interludes during the awards-show broadcast. The superstar singer/songwriter lined up host Neil Patrick Harris and performer Dua Lipa, plus appearances from Lady Gaga, Cynthia Erivo, the cast of It's a Sin and more of his famous friends, for a night of music, comedy, interviews and education.
Lipa, 25, performed her hits "Levitating," "Pretty Please," "Hallucinate," and "Don’t Start Now" and also duetted on "Bennie and the Jets" and "Love Again" with John. "It was so much fun to perform with the gorgeous Dua Lipa and open up our Party to supporters all over the world," John said in a statement. "I’m so grateful to Neil for hosting, everyone who attended and all my friends who participated so that we could continue this legendary event to raise vital funds to end the AIDS epidemic."
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