LOS ANGELES — The sun is going down on Elton John’s final North American show in the place where it all began – Dodger Stadium.
“Tonight is a very special night, a very emotional night for me,” John said after playing “Philadelphia Freedom” on a grand piano center stage and donning a bedazzled jacket with tails and sunglasses. “It has been a long journey.”
John, 75, closed out his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in North America on Sunday, marking his final American concert. The “Rocket Man” singer’s third night at Dodger Stadium is even more poignant since the venue serves as the famous setting for John’s 1975 breakout stadium concerts.
More than 47 years ago, John’s two electrifying, sequin outfit-filled concerts at the historic baseball stadium affirmed the rising star’s supernova status (as seen in his 2019 biopic “Rocketman.”)
“Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium” is being live streamed on Disney+.
“We are making history tonight,” said John.
Sunday’s Disney+ live stream will feature guest performances from Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile and Kiki Dee, John’s duet partner for one his biggest hits, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”
A cadre of stars walked the red carpet for John’s farewell concert including Lizzo, Heidi Klum, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Idina Menzel, John Stamos, Connie Britton and “Top Gun: Maverick” star Miles Teller.
Britney Spears, who recently collaborated with John on their single “Hold Me Closer,” is not scheduled to attend – much less perform.
“If there are any surprise guests, then we will be surprised, too,” says Gabe Turner, one of the concert’s executive producers. “We’re happy with the guests we have. They’re going to bring the house down.”
“This is a huge undertaking,” says executive producer Ben Winston. “After such an unbelievable career, this is Elton saying goodbye to America. This is the last show of the last tour. There is a significant historical and emotional moment to that. And those 1975 gigs only add to that. When you think of Elton John on tour, you think of that show.”
The Disney+ concert began with a 20-minute pre-taped interview with John and his partner David Furnish discussing why “he’s hanging up his touring boots,” says Winston.
The video included contributions from longtime fan President Joe Biden and celebrities including David Beckham and Billie Eilish.
As for the million-dollar question as to whether John will continue to perform, Furnish spoke to Billboard ahead of Sunday’s show and stated, “I know for a fact he will not be touring in any capacity. What you’re going to see is the possibility of a special one-off or a small residency in one venue for a limited period of time.”
