Elton John Receives Prestigious Legacy Award at Attitude Awards

Global music legend Sir Elton John has been awarded the prestigious Legacy Award at the Attitude Awards, supported by Virgin Atlantic. The ceremony, which took place on October 9, 2024, saw the musician celebrated for his immense contributions to the LGBTQ+ community and his illustrious career in music.

Sir Elton was presented with the award by singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, adding an emotional touch to the event. In his speech, Elton John humorously referenced Elon Musk while expressing gratitude for the acknowledgment. “Is this it? Is this the award? What does ‘A’ stand for? ‘Arsehole’ comes to mind! But let’s not talk about Elon Musk tonight – let’s have a good time,” he said, according to a transcript from the awards ceremony.

The award is only the second of its kind; the inaugural Legacy Award was collected by Prince Harry in 2018 to honor his mother, the late Princess Diana, for her work in changing perceptions of HIV. Speaking on stage, Sir Elton expressed his joy of living life as an openly gay man and reflected on his long journey to finding peace and happiness. “I love my husband, my children – I have benefits as a gay man I never thought I’d be able to have,” he shared.

The musician, who recently achieved the rare EGOT status after winning an Emmy for his performance at Dodger Stadium, has had a career spanning seven decades, selling over 300 million records and raising substantial funds for AIDS research through his Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Sir Elton’s legacy extends beyond music, serving as a beacon of inspiration and tireless activism. “There are still people who don’t have those rights, and I intend to fight for those rights until the day I die,” he declared during his speech. Ed Sheeran also praised Sir Elton’s extraordinary life and positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community.

Other honorees of the night included reigning Eurovision Song Contest winner Nemo, who received the Person of the Year award, and former Eurovision champion Lulu, who was awarded the Honorary Gay award. Vanessa Williams and Matt Henry, stars of the upcoming musical “The Devil Wears Prada,” were also present, with Sir Elton having written the music for the production.