Elton John has a dilemma. Every year he and David Furnish host their Oscar dinner and party in West Hollywood for their Elton John AIDS Foundation. The evening is the hot ticket with dozens and dozens of celebrities attending.
But there’s a problem this year for the first time in 25 years: Elton is an Oscar nominee himself. He and Furnish will be at the Dolby Theater where Elton is nominated for Best Song for “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” from his biopic, “Rocketman.” What to do?
A little history: In 1995, Elton and Tim Rice had an astounding 3 of the 5 Best Song nominations from “The Lion King.” They won for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” They were also cited for “Hakuna Matata” and “The Circle of Life.”
Wait– hello? Can you imagine that? Three of the five nominated songs were theirs. Frankly, Elton and Bernie deserved a nod this year for “Never Too Late” from the new “Lion King.”
David and Elton appointed four hosts to watch over the party while they’re preoccupied. The hosts are Diane Lane, Eric McCormack. Heidi Klum, and, of course, Billy Porter. They’ll be helped out by the “Queer Eye” hosts Bobby Berk, Tan France, Karamo, and Jonathan van Ness. There will be a musical performance, as well, by up-and-comer Sam Fender. My old pal, Dave Karger, and Aisha Tyler will host the live stream.
Should Sir Elton win Best Song, and it’s a good bet, there will be post-Oscar mayhem. His famed lyricist Bernie Taupin, will be on hand, and so, too, I think will be Golden Globe winning actor Taron Egerton who played Elton in “Rocketman.” The EJAF dinner and viewing party will have something the other after parties won’t: an actual Oscar winner as host.
with additional reporting by Leah Sydney
