Sir Elton John eagerly anticipated Glastonbury Festival headline performance is went down a treat with fans this evening, which is handy as the music icon has hinted tonight won't actually be the final time he takes to the stage.
Elton kicked things off with a rendition of Pinball Wizard, wearing a gold blazer as he sat as his piano as fireworks filled the air around him, going on to pay an emotional tribute to George Michael towards the end of his set.
It was standing room only at Worthy Farm this evening, with medics rushing to help a fan in the crowd moments before Elton made his grand arrival.
The Cold Heart singer, 76, teased four stars would join him on the Pyramid Stage ahead of taking to the stage this evening, with Rina Sawayama, The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, Jacob Lusk of Gabriels and The London Community Gospel Choir and Stephen Sanchez all singing with Elton so far this evening.
Britney Spears, Dolly Parton Dua Lipa and actor Taron Egerton, who played the singer in his 2019 biopic Rocketman, were speculation to be on Elton's star-studded guestlist, but it seems it the rumours were nothing more than hopeful speculation.
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Elton has kicked things off in style in Somerset (AFP via Getty Images)And it’s goodnight from Elton… and us.
People are crying with emotion as they make their way back to their tents as Glastonbury, with one festival goer telling the Mirror: It’s the end of an era - best act ever!”
Certainly a set that will go down in history.
His set is drawing to a close but Elton is showing no signs of slowing down.
Following his tribute to George, the formidable has belted out Rocketman while fireworks fill the sky above Worthy Farm once again.
Addressing the crowd, an emotional Elton said: "You make me feel so happy. I want to thank you for 52 years of amazing love and loyalty that you have shown me.
"It’s be an immense journey. I have had the best time, I will never forget you. You are in my head, my heart, and my soul. You have been amazing, an incredible crowd tonight. Thank you so much Glastonbury, thank you so much England. I wish you so much health and happiness."
Elton John has paid tribute to his late pal George Michael on what would have been his 60th birthday.
George, who died in December 2016, famously sang a live duet with Elton on Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, which rocketed to number one in the UK and the US in the early 90s.
On Sunday, Elton headlined on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival after a weekend of incredible acts from Guns N' Roses to Arctic Monkeys.
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As the day fell on George's birthday, Elton took a moment to pay tribute to his late friend while performing on stage.
Elton has just finished a rendition of Cold Heart but his collaborator on the song Dua Lipa was sadly nowhere to be found.
Dua and Elton released the chart-topping Cold Heart (Pnau Remix) together in August 2021 and they performed the song at the end of his US final tour date at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in November in 2022.
Everyone loves Elton! (Leon Neal/Getty Images)Piers may not be impressed but the likes of Stella McCartney and Sir Lewis Hamilton are having a ball watching the Rocket Man this evening.
Lizzo, who performed at Glastonbury yesterday, and Kate Hudson have also been spotted watching Elton from the side.
On the stage, the 76-year-old is still going strong, belting out classics like Crocodile Rock, Saturday Night and I’m Still Standing.
Piers Morgan has decided to bring the mood down, taking aim at Elton as the music icon wows fans at Glastonbury and at home.
“Is Elton having to read the words to all his own songs?” Piers tweeted earlier tonight, seemingly not reading the room.
“Piers he’s 77, he’s been sex, drugs and rock and rolling it for over 50yrs. If anyone deserves some help doing a 2hr concert, with some small reminders he can,” one fan reminded Piers in the replies.
Apart from Piers, everyone else is having a wonderful time watching Elton.
We’re sure Elton won’t be too fussed about the feedback from the former Good Morning Britain presenter.
Rina arrives
As expected, Rina Sawayama has taken to the stage and become Elton’s fourth and final guest of the evening.
If you’ve been reading this blog all evening, firstly, thank you, but you will also know Rina’s arrival was expected.
Hours before Sir Elton's set, music correspondent Mark Savage took to to announce: "Elton John's team just performed a soundcheck at Glastonbury.
"As one mic was being tested, a member of the crew said: "One, two, one two. Rina mic, one, two." So is that confirmed for the Pyramid Stage tonight?"
In 2021, Rina and Sir Elton collaborated on an updated version of Rina's song, Chosen Family.
While performing her set on Saturday, Rina hit out at The 1975's frontman
Rina is now back on stage at Worthy Farm once again, singing Don't Go Breakin' My Heart with her good pal Elton.
The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers has joined Elton on stage, with the third guest of the evening singing Tiny Dancer on the Pyramid Stage.
"My next guest. I first met in 2005 When I started playing in Las Vegas, and he came around to my hotel suite to play me his band's first album, which was called Hot Fuss, Elton told the crowd ahead of Brandon coming out.
"We've been friends ever since. He was the first person I thought of us to come and sing with me, even though he's played Glastonbury six times with The Killers. "So I'd like to introduce my dear friend, fantastic artist, Brandon Flowers."
Gorgeous scenes.
The dream is over - it looks like Britney won’t be joining Elton on stage this evening.
As Elton performs one of his more emotional hits, Candle In The Wind, Britney has taken to Instagram once again.
The pop icon has shared a video of herself dancing at home, captioning it: “Edición diferente a la de ayer !!! PS SONIDO !!!”
In English: “Different edition to yesterday !!! PS SOUND !!!”
Oh well, maybe next year.
Still no Britney, sadly, but it’s a very special second guest joining Elton on stage.
Before Stephen Sanchez took to the stage to perform his own song, Elton told the crowd: "When I chose my guests for this show, I wanted to have newer artists save for one person and this next boy I heard last year on the radio in America, and then it was a hit America and a hit in Britain. I couldn't believe that someone of 19 or 20 years of age could write and sing a song like this.
"It was a nod to the past but it sounded so beautiful and fresh. So I've asked him to come to Glastonbury to do his song. It's not one of my songs. I'm gonna play with him.
"But he's an amazing young talent and you gotta give him a biggest reception because you'll love him. Steven Sanchez."
Makeup mogul Charlotte Tilbury is watching on as she unveils a new campaign with the Glastonbury headliner.
Taking to Instagram this evening, Charlotte shared a snap of herself and Elton posing backstage alongside her pal Michaela Jae Rodriqiez and nieces Sofia and Bella Tilbury.
She captioned the snap on Instagram: "DARLINGS! What an honour to watch our darling friend, the inspirational, iconic, legendary and visionary @EltonJohn light up the world with his magical performance at @glastofest !!
"It is such an honour to be a part of this moment, which will go down in history and to celebrate it with my incredible BEAUTY MUSES and friends, the INSPIRATIONAL TALENT @mjrodriguez7 and, of course, my gorgeous nieces @sofiatilbury and @bellabroekmantilbury . We are dancing the night away!!!
"It is a true privilege to support @ejaf’s THE ROCKET FUND!! We are on a mission to fight the stigma to help end AIDS! Tonight, I want everyone to LET YOUR #INNERELTON out!! Share your Elton-inspired festival looks with the hashtag #InnerElton, tag @CharlotteTilbury and @EJAF and together, we can empower everyone, everywhere to live a life filled with confidence as we #GlowWithPride.
"For my look tonight, i’m wearing my fabulous @eltonjohneyewear ejeyewear the secret to a ROCK chic festival look!"
Elton is now giving it all as he belts out Sad Songs (No More)!
But it’s all smiles in the crowd and those watching at home on their sofa, as Elton laps up rave reviews from normally hard to please social media critics.
What a night so far and we’re not even an hour in!
Elton has brought his first guest out on stage!
It’s not Britney, bitch - it’s Jacob Lusk of The Gabriels.
“Are you ready for love?” Elton teased the delighted crowd as he began a rendition of his hit song titled - you’ve guessed it - Are You Ready For Love?
Elton is going down a treat at Glastonbury "#EltonJohn walks onto stage like the mid-70s man he is - and then strikes up on the piano with all the energy of a man in his mid 20s. He’s a bloody legend. #Glastonbury - Amazing," one fan watching the BBC’s coverage has declared on Twitter.
The crowd in Somerset are having the time of their lives too, with fans chanting Elton’s name - moving the star to mouth the words “thank you” over and over again.
So far we’ve enjoyed Elton belting out classics like Pinball Wizard, Daniel, The Bitch Is Back, Philadelphia Freedom and Benny and The Jets.
After performing The Bitch Is Back, Elton got emotional as he told the packed crowd: "Ah wow, I never thought I'd ever play Glastonbury and here I am! It is a very special and emotional night for me because it may be my last show ever in England and Great Britain. So I better play well and I better entertain you. Because you have been standing there so long.
"I really appreciate all the outfits and everything. Okay, here we go."
Tonight’s show is supposed to be Elton’s big farewell but has the icon had a change of mind?
Addressing the crowd at Worthy Farm moments ago, Elton emotionally told fans his headline gig on the Pyramid Stage “may” be his final show.
"May" sounds like Elton could have a few more concerts in him!
The Mirror has learned medics raced into the crowd to rescue a festival goer who had collapsed just minutes before Elton arrived on stage in his gold blazer.
A fan in the crowd spotted the unsettling incident taking place roughly 20 metres away from the stage around half an hour ago.
People in the crowd nearby chanted “help” before the person received medical attention.
We hope everyone is okay!
Elton is on stage and ready to rock!
He’s kicked things off with an energetic rendition of Pinball Wizard, with fireworks filling the air at Worthy Farm as the icon sat at his piano and performed his first song.
The song was originally written by Pete Townsend and performed by The Who.
One festival goer in the packed crowd has informed the Mirror that medics have been called into the crowd towards the front of the stage, just minutes ahead of Elton arriving.
Announcements are being blasted out to remind everyone that it is standing room only and asking people to pick up blankets and pack away fold-up chairs.
Elton famously sang "I’m still standing" and it seems that will be what his fans will be doing this evening.
A tannoy has just announced to the crowd gathered by the Pyramid Stage that it is standing room only this evening - with no one allowed to sit down during Elton’s set due to kick off in less than ten minutes.
The update comes as the Mirror learns Elton’s camp were worried about the weather affecting his performance earlier today, with high winds blowing over Worthy Farm, but things have thankfully settled down.
Britney has just posted a new snap on Instagram ahead of Elton's big performance.
The pop icon has shared a snap of peach covered in diamante crystals, leaving her followers trying to work out if the fruity photo has anything to do with a possible Glastonbury cameo.
“Diamond Peach,” Britney captioned the arty snap less than an hour ago - disabling the option to comment underneath the update.
Possibly just another random Britney post… or is it?
Elton hasn’t even performed at Glastonbury yet but the iconic singer is already bagging some major offers for more gigs.
Music promoters are lining up a series of multi-million-pound offers for Sir Elton John to do an "intimate" multi-night residency in the UK.
But after Elton has indicated that he would be willing to stage a residency in the future, music bosses are prepared to break the bank to secure him.
Read the full story here.
Music bosses are prepared to flash the cash at Elton (Getty Images)With less than an hour to go until Elton appears on stage, a huge crowd has already formed ready for the Rocket Man.
"I would bet my life that Elton John is gonna be the biggest ever crowd at glastonbury. It is insane on the pyramid stage already," one festival goer tweeted as they shared a video of the mass congregation.
Another added: "The crowd for Elton John is insane. Still over an hour yet."
Elton’s hands-on approach to planning his headline set at Glastonbury has impressed the festival’s organiser Emily Eavis.
Speaking to the Glastonbury Free Press onsite paper, Emily revealed: "We have so many artists playing here and often we don’t have much direct contact. But Elton has been very involved and we’ve worked really closely. He’s so excited and engaged with what Glastonbury is."
She added: "It has been quite surreal. Standing there in the farmhouse chatting to Elton while trying to get the kids ready for school, or whatever. But he’s been absolutely lovely," she said:
"He’s been carving out a set that’s going to be completely unique to Glastonbury. I love his love for doing that. I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s going to be amazing."
One of Elton’s surprise guests was seemingly revealed during rehearsals at Worthy Farm earlier today.
Rina Sawayama, who called out Matty Healy during her Glastonbury set on Saturday night, will be performing at the festival once again this evening it appears.
After overhearing a soundcheck that took place this morning, BBC music correspondent Mark Savage, tweeted: "Elton John’s team just performed a soundcheck at Glastonbury. As one mic was being tested, a member of the crew said: ‘One, two, one two. Rina mic, one, two'."
One down, three more to confirm!
Fans suspect Britney make her long-awaited return to the stage at Glastonbury this evening (Getty Images )As if seeing Elton perform in Britain for the final time this evening wasn’t enough, Glastonbury goers will also be treated to cameos from four more huge stars during the music legend’s set.
Ahead of his husband’s performance this evening, Elton’s partner David Furnish teased fans about the singer's plans to bring major stars on stage with him to close the festival in style.
"Four collaborators of his choosing," David told Sky News journalist Beth Rigby earlier this week.
"People, he just thought, 'I’d really like to do something with these artists at Glastonbury'. And that’s all I’m going to say."
When pushed to announce the names of the four collaborators, David added: "Sorry. I am sworn to secrecy."
Elton's fans are dressed to impress (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)With just under three hours until Elton takes to the stage, the star’s fans are already nabbing prime spots in the crowd to ensure they don’t miss a thing.
Many of Elton’s most dedicated fans have dressed for the occasion, with some kitted out in sequinned baseball outfits as a nod to their hero's famous fashion choices.
The Candle in the Wind singer’s bedazzled Los Angeles Dodgers uniform, worn when he headlined Dodger Stadium for two nights in 1975, is one of Elton’s most iconic outfits of all time.
Elton fan Thomas Lewis, aged 22, from Basingstoke, was snapped in his attire as he watched the Bristol Reggae Orchestra - featuring The Windrush Choir - on the Pyramid Stage ahead of Elton’s set later this evening.
Britney Spears has fuelled further rumours she is set to play at Glastonbury Festival later today after being spotted at an airport ahead of Elton’s set.
It’s rumoured the Gimme More singer is one of the four stars Elton will bring out on stage later this evening as he closes the iconic festival in style.
Britney collaborated with Elton on their track Hold Me Closer (Tiny Dancer) last year, which reached number 1 in the US and number 3 in the UK.
And she caused an internet meltdown on Saturday when she posted a McDonald’s meal print from online art community Notre Arte - with three British flags in the caption.
But fans will have to wait and see if the pop princess makes her return to the stage at Worthy Farm.
Elton John is set to arrive on the Pyramid Stage tonight (Sunday, June 25), at 9pm and play until 11.05pm.
The singer has promised his Glastonbury set will be different to his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour performances, but fans suspect they will still be treated to some of his biggest hits.
"I'm starting with a song I haven't played for about 10 years, so we'll see how it goes," Elton told BBC Radio 1 when discussing his upcoming Glastonbury set.
He added: "It's a different show to what people have been seeing. On Farewell Yellow Brick Road, there's quite a lot of deep cuts, it's not all hits, and you've got to keep people interested."