After concluding massive farewell tour, Elton John achieves another major milestone
Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour has been long and winding. But after five years, John has reached the end.
And a few days after performing his final show of the farewell tour, John has achieved a new milestone: earning his first Emmy nomination.
John’s final North American show, held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, aired live on Disney+ last fall. Now, it has scored three Emmy nominations, including in the outstanding variety special (live) category. It’s the first Disney+ live special to earn a nomination — and it means John could potentially become the 19th person to achieve EGOT status, with an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony win, Deadline reported.
“Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium” is still available for streaming on Disney+.
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About Elton John’s final Dodger Stadium show
The Rocket Man launched his massive farewell lap — 300 shows, five continents — in September 2018. A year into the tour, John brought his nearly three-hour show to Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena.
“It took only the first chord of ‘Bennie and the Jets’ for the bespectacled, bedazzled John to hook his crowd,” the Deseret News reported. “And as the high-energy night went on, with John’s voice in great shape, there was undoubtedly one question on all fans’ minds: Was John, 72, really nearing the end of the yellow brick road?”
Fans got their answer near the end of the show, when John leveled with his audience and told them he was ready for a new chapter.
“The greatest thrill for me is to play to another human being and get a response. And I deem it fairly accurate to say that you have responded so brilliantly. And I will never, ever forget you. You’re in my soul, you’re embedded in me,” he told his fans, per the Deseret News. “I have another life to live now. I never thought in my life I’d have a family of my own, but I do now. And that family needs me, so this is why I’m doing this final tour, to say goodbye and thank you. … Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have given me.”
Three years after that Salt Lake City concert, John performed his final North American show.
John said the show was more elaborate than his tour’s other concerts, the Associated Press reported. The singer invited special guests for the show, including recent collaborators like Dua Lipa and Brandi Carlile; and Kiki Dee, who partnered with him for the 1976 hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”
Footage from the show will be part of an upcoming Disney Original documentary titled “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances and The Years that Made His Legend,” per Variety.
Performing his last North American show from Dodger Stadium was somewhat of a full-circle moment for John, who made his U.S. debut at the Troubadour club in Los Angeles.
“I want it to end here because it’s been a magical place for me,” John said in an Associated Press interview.
“To feel the energy from the best fans, not only in Dodger Stadium again, but this time around the world from those watching live at home, will be truly extra special for me,” he said, per The Los Angeles Times. “I’m thrilled to celebrate this momentous evening globally. I hope everyone feels the power and joy of performing on a stage as iconic as Dodger’s. Just like I did almost 50 years ago.”
