Don’t go breaking our hearts! Lewis Hamilton, Kate Hudson, Debbie Harry and Anya Taylor-Joy join Sir Paul McCartney stage left as emotional Sir Elton John performs his final UK show in front of thousands at Glastonbury
Saturday night might be alright for fighting, but the mood was decidedly joyous on Sunday as Sir Elton John performed his last ever UK show in front of thousands at the Glastonbury Festival.
Fans converged in front of the Pyramid Stage as the veteran star worked his way through a lively two hour set, among them a host of familiar faces from the worlds of film, music and sport.
Watching from their vantage point above the stage, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton rubbed shoulders with actresses Kate Hudson and Anya Taylor-Joy, while Debbie Harry – fresh from her own performance at the festival – also joined the party.
Elsewhere director Sam Taylor-Johnson was joined by actor husband Aaron – widely tipped to be the next James Bond – as Sir Elton performed a medley of hits.
Taron Egerton, who famously played the pianist in musical biopic Rocket Man, was also in attendance during the farewell show, the last British performance on his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road world tour.
Loving it: Lewis Hamilton was in attendance as Sir Elton John performed his final UK show at Glastonbury on Sunday evening
Captivated: Actress Kate Hudson was joined by husband Danny Fujikawa and Blondie legend Debbie Harry on a balcony above the stage
Getting involved: Anja Taylor-Joy also watched the show at Somerset venue Worthy Farm
True icon: Sir Elton struggled to contain his emotions during a lively two hour set
Sir Paul McCartney watched from the sidelines on Sunday evening, just 12-months after headlining on the festival’s legendary Pyramid Stage in front of 10,000 people.
McCartney, 81, was joined by fashion designer daughter Stella as the pianist performed a two hour set that opened with a cover of The Who’s Pinball Wizard and ended, some 21 tracks and four duets later, with the instantly recognizable Rocket Man.
Sir Elton, 76, was close to tears as hundreds of thousands gathered at Worthy Farm for the final UK show of his sprawling Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
The performance conjured images of McCartney’s own headline performance in 2022, a concert that has been delayed by three years as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and featured guest appearances from Foo Fighters legend Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen.
And fans were quick to praise the singer, with one tweeting: ‘I just love seeing #PaulMcCartney watching all the artists from the sidelines, what a guy.’
While a second quipped: ‘McCartney spotted watching Elton from the wings!’
Elsewhere a third joked: ‘#Elton rocking it at #Glastonbury so many hits and his piano playing sensational! Love the shots of #PaulMcCartney who must be jealous of EJ voice quality.’
Sir Elton walked on to the stage in a gold suit before taking a seat at the piano as fireworks went off, before saying he never thought he would play the festival for a ‘special and emotional’ show.
Pals: Director Sam Taylor-Johnson was seated alongside Lewis Hamilton during Sir Elton’s farewell show
Picture perfect: Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson was seen behind wife Sam as they took in the show alongside Sir Elton’s husband David Furnish (far right)
Going nowhere, man: Sir Paul McCartney watched from the sidelines on Sunday evening as Sir Elton John performed the final live UK performance of a glittering six decade career at Glastonbury
Iconic: Sir Elton performed a two hour set that opened with a cover of The Who’s Pinball Wizard and ended, some 21 tracks and four duets later, with the instantly recognizable Rocket Man
Good times: Kate Hudson beamed as she watched the show alongside Debbie Harry, who had previously performed at the festival with Blondie
The star removed his famous red-tinted glasses to wipe away tears as his musical guests paid tribute to him on stage.
During the evening, he dedicated his penultimate song Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me to the late George Michael on what would have been the singer’s 60th birthday, saying: ‘This is a very special day today, I wondered how I was going to approach it.
‘One of Britain’s most fantastic singers and songwriters was George Michael. He was my friend, he was an inspiration, and today would have been his 60th birthday, so I want to dedicate this song to his memory. All the music he left us with is so gorgeous. This is for you George.’
He opened his set with Pinball Wizard before playing The B***h Is Back and then said: ‘I never thought I would ever play Glastonbury and here I am.
Previously: McCartney was in attendance just 12-months after headlining on the festival’s legendary Pyramid Stage, where 10,000 people watched him belt out a medley of hits
Popular: Fans were quick to comment on McCartney’s latest appearance at Glastonbury
‘It’s a very special and emotional night for me because it might be my last show ever in England, so I had better play well, and I had better entertain you, you’ve been standing there so long, and I really appreciate all the outfits and everything.’
He then followed up with Bennie And The Jets and Daniel to a capacity crowd at the Pyramid Stage.
Sir Elton was joined by Jacob Lusk of Gabriels and The London Community Gospel Choir for Are You Ready For Love?
Following a performance of Someone Saved My Life Tonight, he told the crowd: ‘When I chose my guests for this show I wanted to have newer artists, save for one person, and this boy I heard last year on the radio…
‘I’ve asked him to come to Glastonbury to do his song and he’s an amazing young talent.’
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Tearful: Pop star Sir Elton removed his famous red-tinted glasses to wipe away tears as his musical guests paid tribute to him on stage
He was then joined by Stephen Sanchez for a performance of Sanchez’s song Until I Found You.
Sir Elton then welcomed the Killers frontman Brandon Flowers to perform with him, who took to the stage in a red jacket, with the pair performing Tiny Dancer.
Brit-nominated singer Rina Sawayama took to the stage with him to perform Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.
He also performed renditions Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Your Song and Candle In The Wind to the huge crowd.
Say cheese: Hamilton was seen taking a selfie with David Furnish on Sunday evening
Special moment: Furnish was on hand to support his husband during the farewell show
Close: Anya Taylor-Joy was joined by a friend as they watched the spectacle unfold
Who were Elton’s special guests?
Sir Elton’s first guest was Jacob Lusk of Gabriels and The London Community Gospel Choir who performed Are You Ready For Love?
He was then joined by Stephen Sanchez for a performance of Sanchez’s song Until I Found You.
Sir Elton then welcomed the Killers frontman Brandon Flowers to perform with him, with the pair performing Tiny Dancer.
Brit-nominated singer Rina Sawayama took to the stage with him to perform Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.
WHO DIDN’T SHOW?
Elton noted that he would be singing Dua Lipa’s part of the song, Cold Heart, himself because she was also unable to join him on the night.
Dua, 27, couldn’t be there leaving Elton to sing their 2021 hit alone – and instead Dua shared snaps from a family meal on the same day.
Britney Spears, 41, was widely speculated to be performing their track Hold Me Closer with Elton during the show, however she never appeared.
Fans were surprised to see Elton’s legendary duet partner Kiki Dee was replaced in a shock move by Rina
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